Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-01-23
MEATH THE THINKING CAP
Editor Askov American:

Editor Askov American:
l strayed from beneath the quilts
rather early this morning. l was suf-
fering from very peculiar fever and
was unable to sleep any longer. How
ever, l was very much eased by the
thought that your press is propelled
under the conviction of freedom OF
press" and, assured of that fact, de-
cided that l would let you whirl my
passion over the revolving drum.
suppose it comes we'll nigh sacri-
lege for one of the simple folks, such
as I, to question the supreme YER
dict of the highest court in our land,
However. as for me, there appears
no alternative at present, for | am
still suffering sufficiently from
static mania" to believe that | am.
even yet. living in a democracy-th
finest political system yet conceived
by man-which actually guarantees
to every man, woman and child, re-
CARELESS of race, color or previous
condition of servitude," the sacred
rights of freedom-huSh! husht don't
cut me off thus before l have had a
hearing It's in our Constitution
of speech, press and assembly; and
lulls our conscience with full recOg
milton of our "inalienable rights of
Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happi
ness" Also, it permits a balance of
power, first, by permitting the citizens
of the Land to elect their represe nta
tives to the several branches of gov
eminent (save the Supreme CourtD
who in turn are free to thrash out
differences and finally formulate
laws, which at least ought to be, for
the highest wellbeing of the greatest
majority of the people. True enough,
we vest veto power in one man, the
President, but simultaneously we have
guaranteed against dictatorship ty
permitting Congress to force him to
submission by passing a measure
twice over his head. Splendid! A
democracy! Alas, could | but stop
ISOLATION. But since 1 am compelled
to proceed, l must regretfully declare
ours a ''plutOcracy''-we have not yet
considered the Supreme Court.
This body of nine men is appointed
by the President, subject to approval
by Congress. for life. subject to "good
behavior" The original purpose of
this body was to function in "all cases
in law and equity, arising under this
Constitution" But, comb the Con-
stitution as we'll as l may, l cannot
for the life of me find one single word
which might in any way cause a
level-headed person to believe that
the Supreme Court was vested with
the power of declaring whether or
not the laws made by Congress-our
law making body-are "constitu-
tional." Does any one actually be-
lieve that Congress, whose members
represent the many diverse sections
of our land, is less concerned about
preserving the statutes of the Consti-
tuition than static. weather-worn,
aged body Of nine men who seldom
smell the atmosphere outside of Wash
ingtOn. D. C.-whO seldom sense the
throbbing needs of the vast populaceo
Scan the pages of political hi tory,
if you please, and you will discover
that as long as our Union has existed
it has always been the several states
and geographical sections which have
remained, politically, on the defensive
in a ceaseless struggle to preserve
their constitutional rights. What
states, what single section in our
land, except Wall Street, have ri ZEN
on their heels and threatened Con-