The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-06-13


saved from the doom pronounced upon
it by the Supreme court.
In the course of a two hour talk
with the Washington correspondents
the President sent up trial balloon
on the plan he had conceived for re-
modelling the government to fit his pro-
gram, declaring that he favored cur
failing the sovereignty of the states
and giving the central government full
control over agriculture, industry, COM
merce and all other occupations and en-
terprises. He said this question of
amending or rewriting the COnstitu-
ton must be settled by vote of the
people. In some ways, he said, the Su-
preme court decision was the best thing
that could have happened to the coun-
try because it clarified the issue as he
presented it. The issue must be met
by moving one way or the other, he
said, back to the Is states or forward
to the modern Interpretation.
We are the only country in the world
which has not solved this problem, Mr..
Roosevelt said. We thought we were
solving it, but now it is thrown right
back in our faces. We are relegated
to the "horse and buggy" interpreta-
ton of the interstate commerce clause.
That many prominent Democrats will
be alienated from their support of Mr..
Roosevelt by this pronouncement is GER
tain. Already there has been launched
a movement for those of the party who
seek "a return to constitutional gov
eminent to unite with the Republicans
who are of like mind. Its leaders are
cambridge Colby, who was secretary
of state in President Wilson's cabinet.
and Chief Justice William r. Pattan-
gall of the Massachusetts Supreme
court.
Mr.. Colby has written to a number
Of Democratic leaders of national re-
pute proposing they meet in south
ern city. preferably Richmond, ito con-
slider some form of political action that
is for our country and above party"
In q letter to friend in Washington
II was revealed that Chief Justice Pat
tangall had decided to resign in order
to join with other Jeffersonian Demo-
Gratis to bring about coalition with
Republicans and the restoration Of
constitutional government" to replace
the New Deal.
Neither of these gentlemen hopes to
prevent the denomination of Mr.. Roose-
welt, but they believe he might be de-
Of hn hxyo
ment.
OF Democratic senators a number,
like Smith of South Carolina, Connolly
of Texas, Clark of Missouri and King
of Utah, frankly expressed their OPP
position to the Presidents views. 9th
ers expressed rather mild approval.
All were surprised. The conservative
Republicans of course were outspoken
in their disapproval of the abrogation
of states rights. and the more radical
men of that party were divided. Sem
ator Borah Of Idaho voiced the opinion
of many others when he said:
There Is plenty of power, absolute
power, to deal with all national prob
lens. We don't need a constitutional
amendment nearly so much as we need
some one to draw bills in accordance
with the Constitution. You can't draw
a bill on great subjects of this nature
as you would draw a resolution for a
town meeting. Let it be uderstood
that the construction which the Su-
preme court has placed on the inter-
state commerce clause gives ample and
complete and plenary power to deal
with all matters of national concern"
President and his advisers had de-
cided on their course in reforming the
New Deal but would not announce it
for a time. Meanwhile, according to
the story, congress will be urged to
pass makeshift legislation, to reinstate
the code system by voluntary co-opera-
ton of business men, and to treat the
labor problem by law protecting any
state from goods produced in other
states under labor standards below it's
own. The states will be invited to
make their own recovery laws and the
federal government will assume the
power of enforcing them.
Statesmen are trying to devise some
way of centralizing the government
without amending the Constitution.
One suggestion, approved by good
many, is that congress deprive the Su-
preme court of appellate Jurisdiction
in cases involving wages and hours of
labor, production, and various other
fields in which the New Deal operates.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself says that the
Supreme court decision by implication
cast serious doubt upon the validity of
much New Deal legislation besides
NRA, notably the agricultural adjust
ment act, the securities act and the
securities and exchange act.
OFFICIALS of the United Mine
~ Workers of America gave notice
that approximately 100000 miners in
the soft coal fields would 90 on strike
unless new wage contracts were
signed before June 16 The members
of the union were warned there must
be no violations of the law nor any
disturbances of the public peace dur
ing the strike. The entire soft coal