davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-03-14
GEORGE JEFFERSON, Jr, .
Also Answers DIR. NefY
HfSV HIfSWcTS HT, Ne1l
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of Tn. Star.
That fiery article in Thursdays Star
by j. P. Nef in which he advocated
the spanking of five of the nine Jus.
tices of the Supreme Court because
they dared to vote their Interpretation
OF the Constitution on legislative acts
passed by the present Congress and
signed by the President had all the
earmarks of rebellion against the
present order of things in it.
j. P. Nef is Rev. j. P. NeY, an
ordained minister Of the Columbia
Union Conference of Seventh-Day Ad-
ventists, secretary Of the educational
department of that unit of the church
throughout the Middle Atlantic States
that has to do with the training and
building Of character OF the youth
Of that denomination.
Surely the war-like spirit exempli-
ned so vigorously in DR.. Neff's ad-
vocacy Of doing something drastic TO
the Supreme Court, or at least Ave
OF its members, cannot be the spirit
of the Seventh-Day Adventist denom-
nation, which teaches the doctrine
through thousands Of its preachers of
peace on earth, good will to men,"
as enunciated by Christ himself.
Surely the Adventists don't agree
with DR.. Nef when he speaks of the
will of the people, and urges that
II this will is not complied with, as
demonstrated in the election of last
November then there should be
change in the attitude Of the su-
preme Court no less than what would
(See LETTERS, Page A-ls)
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Remedy Lies With the People.

make these policies effective.
ELIAS L. GROOMS.
Remedy Lies With the People.
To the Editor of The Star:
Attorney General Cummings holds
our Constitution to be living thing
designed to meet living conditions as
they are now and new ones as they
arise. 1t is significant that in this
he speaks of the Constitution itself,
not OF the Supreme Court judges.
In this connection, the one time
comment of President Roosevelt rele-
eating certain unanimous Supreme
Court decision to "the horse and buggy
days has its suggestiveness. Our
Constitution, be it noted, was created
IN the saddle-horse and oxcart days.
1t grew. by amendment. into "the
horse and buggy days" 1t now needs
to grow into the automobile, airplane
and radio days, by further amend
ment, to prove itself still living and
apace with the times.
The recognized pressing issue of our
day is economic. But economic roy-
allsm," or economic exploitation, did
not begin its growth today. Its seeds
were SoWn in the early days of our
Republic, there being no constitutional
barrier, rather constitutional encour-
agement. Without apparent violation
OF our Constitution, our economic sit
uation today has grown to a major
| lSSIa hanaNSo 0f 1-iSa
and destroying injustices growing out
OF perverted economic practices, un-
| derminlng our social living AS a de-
| mocracy, the power of correction lies
IN ourselves, individually and as a peo-
pie, to be delegated, as necessary or
| ADVISABLE, to our agents through con-
stltutional authority and not other
wise. An economic amendment CIV
ing specific authority to deal effec-
! lively with our present economic chaos
seems clearly in demand rather than
relying upon differences, obviously de-
| batable, drawn from a Constitution
as written when present-day condi-
tions were not foreseen, hence not
guarded against.
The very democracy we profess, now
In its threatened breakdown, fairly
demands that I'VE. the people" give
| our agency, known as our Govern
ment, the clear mandate, through con-
stltutlonal authority, so to reorganize
| our economic system that it will full
fill its proper function in securing "to
ourselves and our posterity" the right
II of toj jp,y &c
conditions envlsaged in our Constitu-
tion's preamble.
II We are not ready to take this
step, our support and cooperation in
a movement otherwise undertaken
cannot be assured. Wisdom, there
fore, would require further experience
and education before the venture.
If we are ready for forward move
ment, we will express ourselves in the
| authorized way with promptness. A
good proportion of amendments are
shown to have passed within nine
months to year, all depending upon
interest and unanimity essential
qualities in every movement OF de-
mocracy.
The problems confronting us for
solution are momentous and OF fun
damental consideration. Their solu-
ton lies in growth from a sound
economic policy. To accomplish this
end our agency needs now, if ever, to
act with wisdom. caution, practical
understanding personal and political
disinterestedness, and with the genu-
inc progressive spirit and purpose OF
democracy. c. c. TUCKER,
Hyattsville, Md.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
REVERENCE FOR COURT
A PREDOMINANT THEME
But Some Writers Put Faith i'm Need
for Economic Reform Through
the Judiciary.

would read and reread the Constitu-
ton. I echo that hope. The reader
Of the Constitution will find this Ian
guage appearing in article III, section
2. which article deals with the crea-
ton of the Supreme Court:
THE judicial power shall ex-
tend to controversies to
which the United States shall be
party 80"
Further on, in article VI, section q
this is said:
This Constitution, and the laws
OF the United States which shall
be made in pursuance thereof;
shall be the supreme law
OF the land - y"
The United States is always a party
to q proceeding In which the consti-
tutionality Of a congressional act Is
involved. 1t seems clear, therefore,
that under the Constitution the Su-
preme Court, in passing upon a ques-
ton, is only performing its duty, and
that 1t is not arrogating to itself un-
lawful power. as the President would
have us believe II the Supreme
Court does not have this right under
the Constitution, then the question
arises who is to say that an act Of
Congress is or is not made in accord
ance with the terms OF the ConStitu-
ton, which Is the supreme law of
the land and anything in conflict
Herewith must yield? Is an act of
Congress to be unrebuttably presumed
to be constitutional merely because it
is an act Of the legislative body?
Apparently that is the idea. because
further on in the chat the President
tells us that, given the opportunity,
he will appoint justices who will not
undertake to override the judgment
of the Congress on legislative policy.
II this is to become a fact, of what
worth will be the constitutional guar
anteeS of certain rights to the people,
such as contained in the bill of
rights? A supine Congress, under a
dominant Executive, may pass laws
that unquestionably would violate
some provision Of the Constitution,
but there would be no relief. One
may have the idea that change in
the congressional membership or in
the Executive itself could be effected
by the ballot. But even that right
could be taken away by legislative fat
and there would be no redress except
by rebellion. Is that democracy? 1t
has happened in Europe. 1t can hap
pen here. Yours very truly,
W. H. SHIELDS.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
To the Editor Of The Star:

Az 'fe 5dItoI Oi lHc StdI
have read with much Interest
o the articles in The Evening Star BY
Mr.. Charles S. Collier on the PreSi-
dents Supreme Court proposal
Among other things in the articles
Mr.. Collier states:
These discussions seem to imply
that the President ought to have
no hand whatever in naming
the judges of the Supreme Court
lest the independence of the
judges should be undermined. But
the fact is that if any of the
present judges should die to-
morrow, the right of the Presi-
dent to nominate a successor would
be unqueStionable. Whv is
1t so fundamental that the ap-
pointing power should come into
application only upon the death
of one of the aged incumbents?
. This introduces an accidental
O. phase into the operation of the
appointing power, a reverence for
which can only be regarded as
superstitious.
Mr.. Collier evidently misses the
whole point of the opposition to the
plan proposed by the President. What
he says about the power of the Presi-
dent is correct, and no one woulc
suggest taking that power out of the
hands Of the President. That power
properly belongs to the President
and the Constitution and the Amer
: lean people have right to assume
y the President will do his duty ir
fulfilling this obligation. But SUP.
pose the President in filling a vacancy
on the Supreme Court should accom-
pany his nomination with a message
10 the Senate running something like
, this:
Il have this day nominated Mr.
q as a member of the Supreme
Court. I think the members Of
the Senate should know that before
nominating him l had distinct
understanding with him that as q
member of the Supreme Court he
would at all times vote to sustain
such acts of Congress as were passed
vote I am hoping and expecting the
supreme Court will sustain nv con-
cept Of the meaning of the Con.
stltutlon."
What would Mr.. Collier and the
american people think of such q
message? Would they not condemn
u as corrupt agreement. and would
not the United States Senate out OF
self-respect be compelled to reject
such nomination? Yet that is
exactly what Mr.. Roosevelt here pro-
poses. He insists he must have this
Dill passed in order that he NAV get
such legislation approved as he pro-
poses. How can he have such as
surance without having some such
corrupt agreement with the men he
appoints? If men are willing to make
any such agreement thev are unfit for
any public office, the fact that they
make 1t and then refuse to abide by
1t likewise makes them unfit.
IL is the boldneSs of Mr.. Roosevelt
IN his final frank statement that
1rlghtenS the average American citi-
zen. If In filling a single vacancv
ne selected a capable lawyer who
was suspected of believing that the
New Deal legislation was constitu-
tlonal, there would be no such outcry
against the President. The complaint
grows out of the effort to do a thing
which the Constitution permits but
winch, in view of the Presidents
own admission, must be considered
oy good citizens as dishonorable,
DANIEL o. HASTINGS.
U. S. Senator from Delaware,
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Blames Congress for Invalid Laws.

Since there seems to be so much
controversy relative to the Supreme
Court judiciary and the President, 1
cannot but take some exception to
some quotations involved. One in
particular stands out In my mind, the
term mandate. II understand the
definition and the true meaning OF
the word mandate, 1t Is a command
requirement issued by sovereign
who is sole authority. Thank God, We
have no such form OF government,
although many people have lately ex-
pressed themselves, that since our
President was elected by such a vast
majority, he is invested with that
power
Now wish to call to the attention
Of all who are Of that opinion. that
the only time President Of the United
States OF America was given that
power was wartime, and for the dura-
ton Of that period only, and that
takes an act Of Congress, under the
Constitution. further would like to
point out that q President Of the
United States can be elected without
the majority Of votes cast by the
people. To make it clear, victorious
presidential candidate may carry sew
eral States by small majority and
the defeated candidate could have a
popular vote of several millions more
than the successful candidate, there
fore the implication and term, man
date Of the people, does not apply to
any election Of the President in the
United States of America We do have,
however, a branch Of Government that
has that power of mandate and
that is our Supreme Court, and even
that body has limitation, for it stops
with the jurisdiction of the courts of
the country.
In conclusion, wish to convey the
thought to the minds Of some critics
that the members Of the present Su-
preme Court are far from being in
their dotage. and a. far as having
numbers Of capable lawyers In our
Evening star., 1937-03-14

Congress 1t seems to me that the last
Congress must have been in sta,,
dotard when they passed laws that
cannot stand the test Of the Consti-
tuition.
Here, my dear readers, comes the
rub. In the last IS years We tried in
PRODUCING bill after bill in Congress
relative to child labor and our Con-
gress tells us We must have referendum
and ratification Of three-fourths Of
the States TO amend the Constitution,
which I say is correct. But how can
this same Congress pass laws such az
N. r. A., A, A. A, Guffey coal bill
and what not and expect the gentle
men Of the Supreme Court to Law
aside their wisdom, their knowledge Of
law and last, but not least, give the
New Dealers the Constitution TO play
with and make us dance TO their own
tunes?
Here's to the Supreme Court Judges:
Here's health to venerable gentlemen
nine,
Who protect the interest of yours and
mine,
Spare them, God. I pray unto you,
And extend your blessings to the
President, too
JOHN J. Quinn.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Puppets vs. Constitutionaiists

uppcts w. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
To the Editor OF The Star
From all that has tranSpired in and
around our legislative halls in WASH
lngtOn since January last, it is very
apparent to the average onlooker that
the present session of Congress has
definitely developed into a conflict be-
tween political puppets" on one
hand and proponents of constitutional
government on the other In view
OF this fact. every citizen of this
Nation should thank God that we
still have in the United States Sem
ate today, nucleus OF Senators who,
irrespective Of party politics, power
drunk politicians and "whip-crack X
ing" still have the fear of God in
their hearts and the courage Of their
convictions.
This fight is also to be reckoned
with in our State governments, where
the political puppet," with the bless
ing of the party in power on his
head (for purely mercenary reasons),
Is voted into power by thinking
electorate, and then does not raise
his hand to execute his solemnly sworn
duty when group of the citizenry
Of his State shouts open defiance to
United States court order issued for
the protection of the American right
OF private property ownership.
What citizen OF this country Of ours
just five years ago could even have
visualized a State officer apparently
poWerless TO execute an eviction order
issued by a Judge Of a United States
court? Yet this "travesty on Law
and order" was recently, actually writ
ten indelibly into the pages of thi,
Nations history. and it can honestly
be laid at the doorstep OF the political
racketeer (no matter how loudly he
may disclaim ownership and titles)
Each Of us would do we'll to ask
ourselves this question: Do we want
our last resort to justice-the Supreme
Court-subservient to the whinns and
fancies OF any one man, political party
or power? Rather, had we not better
relegate party politics to the back
ground and concern ourselves with
voting to public Office men Of prin-
ciple who cannot be coerced and who
place no price on honesty and respon-
sibility.
AS individuals we may have rea-
sons for criticism OF this or that ad-
ministration, but taken as 4 whole, the
electorate Of our Nation can blame
only themselves for the rise Of the
political puppet because In the final
analysis our Government Is direct
reflection Of the amount Of thought
independent thought we have given
to the exercise Of our right of fran
chise, and if, in the immediate fu-
ture more thought is not given to the
selection Of those who legislate our
laws, non-thinkins electorate may
yet regret the day they made it pos
sible for the Hon. James A. Farley to
coin his now famous ratio phrase OF
%6 to 2.
T. CANFIELD JENKINS,
Indian Head, Md.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Backs the Presidents Plan.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
I have read President Roosevelt's
victory dinner address. To the aver
age person, one Of the masses, 1t can
not be contradicted in any particular
To delay urgent, progressive action
will spell disaster. There can be no
doubt that the situation which We
face calls for immediate solution.
There can be no lodging Of the issue.
This quibbling over the constitution
ality of measures to uplift the Nation
and provide for 1t as a whole is
puerile-childish. The thing for us
all to do is to cooperate in a sane and
safe policy for the welfare of every
individual under the United States
flag. We must stand unselfishly for
one another or we will all fall together
This Nation is able to provide for all
its citizens, and if it fails, great will
be the disaster. 1t is still true in a
United we stand. divided
we fall" We must pull together for
a Well-housed, well-fed, we'll clothed,
Well-educated, an intelligent and con-
sSA'pSN RScPiS' AAA~iS Sdll NC 1iO lld ppl.
ness in squalor, in poverty, in ignor-
ance, and IN the constant fear Of want.
DO you not hear the children crying,
0 my brother, ere the sorrow comes
with years, and they are leaning their
young heads against their mothers,
and that cannot stop their tears"
Something has got to be done to pre-
vent this gaunt shadow Of want from
stalking through our country before
anxious and smileless faces can radiate
with hope and peace and the prospect
OF better day. Destitute and cheer
less homes must have the specter Of
starvation banished before children
under proper environment can have
an optimistic and joyful outlook On
life. Poverty is cruel and embitters,
and extracts the sweets out Of life.
commend President Roosevelt for
dealing with the masses, with the
needs Of our people as a whole, rather
than with the classes-and Of his logic
"a stitch in time saves nine" This
IS not the day and time to deal with
delays and in the end q "do-nothing"
policy, but to rise up, like Samon of
old In our strength, shake of our
sleepiness and lethargy, and boldly
strike down the enemies Of our Nation,
home. and Of each Of US personally
fear, anxiety a. to the future, uncer-
tainty. and with sure tread, unafraid,
and with confidence In our Govern
ment OF help now and in the future
go forward"
| W HYYpnApn
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Sees Plan as Necessary
To the Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star:
On March 4, 1888. when Franklin
u Roosevelt was inaugurated. Our
country was on the verge of failure
from every angle Banks were fail
ing by hundreds, most factories were
either running on part time or were
closed entirely. Millions of men and
women were idle. Men, women and
children in every community we're suf-
ierlng from want of food, clothing
and shelter. Preachers gave up their
churches because of lack of funds IN
Keep going. The plight of thousands
OF farmers and ranchers seemed hope
less. The failure of farmers was re-
Iected IN the failures of thousands of
business concerns.
Immediately after President Roose-
Telt took over the reins of govern
ment he proposed, and Congress en-
acted, legislation that stopped bank
failures. Cd through the N. r. A. gave
business a new lease on life, (2)
ehfough the H. O. L. c. stopped the
wholesale foreclosure on American
homes and 80 through the A. A, A,
gave the country its first workable
farm relief program.
IN my opinion our country is not
yet on a Solid basis and will not be
unless our great President has the
continued cooperation of both houses
OF Congress, and unless the Supreme
Court adopts a more liberal view in
passing on the constitutionality of
laws enacted for the purpose Of bring
Ing about some greatly needed reforms
IN our economic system.
With all due respect for the Sill
preme Court and reverence for the
Constitution, am unable to find any,
Where in that great document snv
authority for the Supreme Court to
declare an act of Congress unconsti-
tutlonal. Supreme Court decisions in
validating certain New Deal meas
ures have created situation that de-
mands either constitutional amend
ment or judicial reform. To amend
the Constitution is at best a slow
process, and the condition of the
country calls for prompt and ener-
eetlc action now, no less than it die
IN 1888. In this connection it should
be remembered that Congress has the
power to enact, and public opinion
can force the repeal of an unpopular
or unWorkable law with greater speed
than constitutional change can bt
effected
1t should be remembered also thai
our country has increased many time.
In size and population since the Con.
stitution was adopted. Our languag.
Itself has grown, and due to moderr
inventions our whole mode of lift
. has undergone far-reaching changes
Government has Jagged behind Will.
we have progressed in other fields
President Roosevelt has advocated ane
tried to put into practice certain
measures calculated to bring govern.
ment up to date, so that the people
OF the United States may through
the Government of their choice NOR,
effectively cope with changed anc
changing conditions of life.
The people have, in no uncertain
terms, Endorsed the Presidents pol
Evening star., 1937-03-14
able certainty that what we do will
not be nullihed as unconstitutional.

able certainty that what we do will
not be nullifed as unconstitutional"
The answer is that the speaker
throws up his hands in despair, per-
mits fear to conquer his courage and
conefsses his inability to do any
thing" to accomplish any of the things
he enumerates. This is the stage
always reached when incapacity and
panicky fanaticiSm in cause blinds
the eyes to right reason and the true
way out.
All this despair and fear is due to
the fact that the Supreme Court Of
the United States-Our highest court
knowing more about the Constitu-
ton of this country than one man.
has Loyalty invalidated his legislative
devices that outlawed themselves.
But that should not cause all this
fear, despair and Illustration to over
whelm an intelligent or fighting"
crusader The New Deal has not
exhausted legitimate remedies. There
is still court to which it may go
to submit its program, and it should
go there before doing anything else
The court in this country higher
than the Supreme Court of the United
States Is the court of last resort
its judges the American people Not
as individuals, not as selfish, clamor-
Gus mobe, but through and by the Or
derby instrumentalities OF the States
in which they reside, the people Of
this Nation can decide what the Con-
stitution shall say and can Ak the linn
itations beyond which neither pol
iticians nor our highest court can go.
II the purpose is to accomplish
anything" sure and certain, and non-
reversible by our courts when COM
petently enacted as law. the fair and
honorable way is to trust the Amer
lean people in an orderly way. pre-
scribed by the Constitution, to decide
what shall be done and how it shall
be done, rather than to resort to de-
vious devices by which politicians seek
to set up constitutionally immoral
rulership over all the people.
Misused enthusiasm and incitation
may devsstatingly lead shallow pol
iticians to forget the proper bounds.
Such stampeding inventors Of panies
and crises should not be needed, for
the people should never trust pol
iticians who will not trust the people
TO render their own final decision on
matters that fundamentally affect US
all. JOSEPH w. CHEYNEY.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Available Court Remedies.
TO the Editor Of The Star:

70 tnB EuICof OF u No BtGf.
Combining in one the two chal-
lenges recently made in radio ad-
dress, we have the following:
But I defy any one to read the
opinions concerning A. A. A., the
railroad retirement act, the national
recovery act, the Guffey coal act, the
New York minimum wage law, the +.
v. A. case, the Duke power case and
the A. A. A. case and tell us exactly
what we can do as National Gov
ernment during this session Of Con.
gress for the industrial worker, or to
control flood and drought and gen.
crate cheap power, With any reason-
Evening star., 1937-03-14

against the Presidents Supreme Court
measure.
1t is quite certain that the farmers
belonging to the Grange and to both
parties in politics have thought care
fully on the move made by the Presi-
dent, and they are anxious to see the
Constitution Of the United States pre-
served. Therefore, it is very necessary
that they, together with other citizens,
take a stand against the Presidents
unprecedented, unhallowed actions. In
the name Of God Almighty, Congress
do somethingl j. c. NAGET,
Houston Tex.
Evening star., 1937-03-14
Threat to Democracy.

To the Editor OF The Star:
In his fireside chat President Roose-
welt questioned the right of the SUI
preme Court to pass on the constitu-
tionality Of an act Of Congress. The
President hoped that his listeners