The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-20
F. R. STAND AS TO
THE CONSTITUTION
is SAID PRETENSE
CONTINUED from page u

of the constitution himself to the
presidents complaint that the
constitution should be what the
president tells the supreme court
to say it is. The president wants
himself to be "the odd man" on
the supreme court.
Mr.. Roosevelt would have us
believe that lawyers as a class
impede the progress of our coun-
try. Did he intend his asperSions
for jefferson. Monroe, Lincoln,
Cleveland, to mention few Of
his predecessors who were lawy-
ers? Did he intend to discredit
Marshall, Holmes, Hughes, Bran
deiS and Cardozo?
Or did Mr.. Roosevelt intend
his aspersions only for those lawy-
erS who refuse to accept his New
Deal philosophy and swallow 1t
whole-men like Wheeler, Borah,
Summers, Burke, Pettengill and
others whose recognized legal
knowledge and experience were
used so effectively to defeat his
court-packing scheme?
When President Roosevelt sent
to congress his proposal to pack
the supreme court, he attempted
to conceal his real purpose, rep
resenting that it was to reform
all the federal courts, expedite
their work, and tighten the bur-
den of the justices. -,
The nation soon saw that the
effect, if not the deliberate pur-
pose, was to establish executive
control over the judiciary de-
partment of the government so
that, with a subservient congress,
the president could dictate legls-
lation and interpret 1T as he
willed.
Defeated in this purpose, the
president then appointed to the
supreme court the unfit klans-
man, Hugo Black. Processing OPP
position to dictatorship, he reach
es out to control both the legis-
lative and judicial process. What
he wanted, and still wants-or at
least demands-is a supreme
court, and lower courts, filled
with puppet justices who will
give him decisions validating UNI
constitutional concentrations OF
power in Washington. He is not
content to abide by the orderly
processes of democratic govern
ment.
Embarrassed by the unmasking
of his Klansman-justice, the pres
ident now attempts to justify his
position by further deception,
MISREPRESENTATION and demagogic
efforts to incite class prejudice.
Pretending to defend the consti-
tuition, he again attacks and at
tempts to discredit its very cor
nerstone, the supreme court.
He attempts to deceive by half
truths. He repeats that the franz
ers of the constitution did not in
tend to give the supreme court
"veto power" over congress, al
though it was clearly the intent
of the trainers of the constitution
that the court should safeguard
the citizens against any attempt
by either the congress or the exc
cutive to overstep the limits OF
power set for them by the con-
stitution.
The president has no criticism
of the court when it decides, by
even one vote, in his favor, but
it becomes an evil power when 1t
disagrees with his views. he
must have court decisions his
way. One of the strongest fea-
lures of the constitution IS the
provision that prevents hasty rev.
dictionary changes of govern
eminent by mob rule. The SUI
preme courts careful, deliberate
way of protecting the constitu-
ton is the best guarantee OF the
future of our government.
What a pity that a person IN
such high office, who has sworn
to uphold and defend the constr,
tuition, should use his position anc
influence to overthrow the basic
principles of that sacred docu,
ment and raise in the minds OF
, the uniformed disrespect for 1t
II there is one quick way to de,
stroy our democratic form OF
government, it is to undermine
the prestige of the judiciary. -,
The president spoke of the bill
OF rights. Freedom of the pres:
and of religious worship, freedom
OF assembly and trial by jury ar,
our most precious liberties. Agar
and again they have been pre-
served only by the supreme
court. These liberties have
disappeared in every coun
lry;-%here the courts have com,
under the influence of the exc
y eutive who with the courts in hi.
control soon makos ~. Joc,oo,