Evening star., 1937-09-18
Constitution
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the belief that "the overwhelming ma
jority of the American people fully
understand and completely approve
that course"
ITO hold to that course" he added,
"our constitutional democratic form OF
government must meet the inSlstence
Of the great mass of our people that
economic and social security and the
standard of American living be raised
from what they are >.
SAYS Action Now Needed.
That is why I have been saying
for months that there is crisis in
American affairs which demands action
now .
Il believe that democratic govern
ment in this country can do all the
things which common-sence people
have the right to expect l be-
lieve that these things can be done
under the Constitution > -.
And I am determined that under
the Constitution these things shall be
done
Taking issue frequently through his
speech with the lawyers and the
Supreme Court of today and other
generations, Mr. Roosevelt gave indi-
cation that thoughts of the the court
reorganization plan defeated last
Spring have not yet vanished as he
emphasized the flexible character of
certain powers vested in Government
by the Constitution.
Even the Supreme Court" he said,
was treated with that purposeful lack
of specification. Contrary to the
belief of many Americans, the Con-
situation says nothing about any power
of the court to declare legislation un-
constitutional nor does it mention the
number of judges for the court.
Two Forces Long Opposed.
But for $50 years we have had an
unending struggle between those who
would preserve this original broad con-
cept of the Constitution as layman's
instrument of government and those
who would shrivel the Constitution into
lawyers contract"
Citing many instances of lega'
| disagreement with the legislative arm
of Government, he paid tribute thus to
| one of the Supreme Courts decisions
/ of last Spring:
For 20 years the odd man on the
! Supreme Court refused to admit that
State minimum wage laws for women
were constitutional. A few months ago
after my message TO the Congress or
the rejuvenation Of the judiciary, the
odd man admitted that the court hac
been wrong-for all these 20 years
and overruled himself"
After propounding a belief in the
equality of all three branches of oul
Government, the President turned
again TO his keynote of do it now" a.
he cited the lag in years necessary tC
accomplish many major reforms.
You will find" he told his audi.
ence. mo justification in any of thu
language of the Constitution for della,
in the reforms which the mass of tn,
American people now demand"
Pledges Protection for Minorities.
The present Government, h,
pledged in conclusion, has neve
taken away and never will take ava,
any liberty from minority, unless i
be minority which so abuses its lib
erty as to do positive and definite harm
TO its neighbors constituting the ma
Jority But the Government of tn
United States refuses to forget tha
the Bill of Rights was put into tn
Constitution not only to protect mi
norities against intolerance of maj
: tiles but TO protect majorities agains
the enthronement of minorities.
, Preceding the Presidents address a
the crowd filtered slowly into the yer