xt7wwp9t2q46_97 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61.dao.xml American Liberty League 37 linear feet archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Jouett Shouse Collection (American Liberty League Pamphlets), No. 100 "The Constitution: What It Means to the Man in the Street," by John W. Davis, February, 1936 text No. 100 "The Constitution: What It Means to the Man in the Street," by John W. Davis, February, 1936 2013 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61/59m61_100/Am_Lib_Leag_100_001/Am_Lib_Leag_100_001.pdf section false xt7wwp9t2q46_97 xt7wwp9t2q46 AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE   ‘
AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE   I * *
g • •
  The Constitution
We extend to every American citizen who believes in   * A
the fundamental principles which gave birth to the Q
Constitution of the United States an invitation to be- g what It Means to the Mun
come a member of the American Liberty League. E
You may indicate your acceptance of this invitation E in the Street
by filling in the necessary information as to your name E
and address on the enrollment blank below and mailing Q
it to American Liberty League, National Press Building, Q
Washington, D. C. § * * *
There are no fees or dues. If you are willing and able E _
to give monetary help for the League’s support your  
contribution will be appreciated, as our activities are E
supported entirely by the voluntary gifts of our E
members. Q BY
  JoHN W. DAVIS
ENROLLMENT BLANK {
D E ” Member of the National Executive I
ate ___ : _ _
g k Committee of the American
I favor the principles and purposes of the American E Liberty League
Liberty League and request that I be enrolled as a 2
regular member. g
*contributing " Q
Signature  _ E
 .......m.....-.. E Rl
{Name (Mr. Mrs. Miss) · Q YFA 44,
  'Z ga  ·¤
E  _________________ - _ E qp¢ <;D
· t t : ` ’
Q ree E ery Lev.
§ E
0  _ E
V E Town §
County State _ ;
E AMERICAN LIBERTY LEAGUE
*As a contributing member I desire to give $ __ j r National Headquarters
to help support the activities of the League: Cash here- g NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
with ____1___Installments as follows: g WASHINGTON, D° C`
  * ’ ·k
I Document No. 100
Q February, 1936
(100) 5

   The Constitution
t
l   What It Means to the Man
f L in the Street
  *
V   IN THE present discussions of the Constitu-
_.   tion and possible amendments to it, there is an
H unfortunate tendency to use the word “Consti·
  tution” as a battlecry with no attempt to con-
H sider its meaning from a reasoned and appre- _
t ciative point of view——a tendency to overlook
e its place in the history of civilization and in
t the present everyday life of the citizens of the
  United States.
l Historically, the Constitution represents the
- culmination of centuries of struggle for a gov-
  ernment which would allow each and every citi-
  zen the freedom and individual liberty which
UR/HEN you have finished with this   every thinking person has always desired for
_   himself and which would protect him from un-
pamphlet please pass It on to Some   necessary restrictions and regulations which
friend or acquaintance who might be y might deprive him of those rights. Conditions
interested, eelling his auemion to the   in this country at that time were such that men
_ j could establish what seemed to the clearest and
membershlp blank fm page l2'   most altruistic thinkers a government approach-
9 ing perfection in its design to protect those "in-
j alienable rights” with which men are endowed
I at birth.
. H THE COLONIAL Americans found that the
y old regulations and restrictions had followed
  them across the sea and that they were not truly ·
  free, even in the freedom guaranteed to Eng-
  lish subjects by Magna Charta and the English.
I Bill and Petition of Rights. When the burden
  became too great and the decision was made to
g submit no longer to “taxation without repre-
  sentation” and the other tyrannies of the Eng-
E lish rule, they resolved to establish a govern-
4 ment which would guarantee the rights for
C which they were willing to sacrifice everything
Q else and which would free them, and keep them
3

 I e
free, from the domination of any one individual ” mem m The pohucal iegclopment of Cwlhzatmn
or group who might be in power. are five m number' cy arc'
F zrst. All power comes from the people. The
* people are the masters, the government and its e
SO THEY framed the Constitution te Safe" oiiicers their servants In the language of the
guard their flicedom and thai? rights; and_ imo Declaration of Independence: “All governments
the Constitution went the fruit of tthe political derive their just Powers from the eeriseht ei the
thought and progress of the preceding centuries. governed »
In the famcms PhmSeS’ they made It a govern' This consent is expressed, both as to its nature
glam of laws and not ef m€n`_a eeveeemeekef and as to its limits, in the terms of the Consti-
6 seated p°w€rS’ Such that timsc m MECH] tution. This is the rule of popular sovereignty.
P°s‘]‘*f’“ could not legally ehedee the Hghts Second. The Government of the United States
if gltfcns W1th°ut_ than °;°Ps°r;t‘ NeVmi)b°f°re can exercise no powers except those expressly
a t e persons given po 1t1C3 power een so · · h h C · • h- h h
_ _ _ _ _ given to it y t e onstitution w 1C t e peo-
deiinitely limited and prescribed in the extent ple have sderited It is s rule intended te pre_
to _Wh1Ch they _m1elst °°mI:e1 er regulate the tect the rights of a minority however small
actions of the individual c1t1zens. Andrneyer sssiust thc rievver er s msieritv hevvever large
before had there been such clear-cut d1v1s1on One msn standing en his eehstitutiensl right .
of governmental functions into the three cate- is hy virtue ef this rule Stronger than e theu_
. . . . . . . ¤ ¤
gories of legislative, executive, and _]ud1c1al; sshd whe Weuld deprive him ef that right_ This
’ such careful setting up of the essential balance is thc rule ei- eeristitutieriel limitetierr i
between these different aspects of government; Third Ne meh er set ef meh shell ever eh_
or sltlcld will-considered and adequately devised `iev the despetie power er heihg ehle at eee and
met ° S ° centre ’ the same time to make the law to decide
All this was done to protect the citizens from whether it has heeri vielsteds and gtherr to eX_
the disastrous consequences which inevitably eeute judgment eh the vieleter; that is, the
Iesgllt fm]? the eeneemrlauen ef the Verieee at' same persons shall never exercise the legisla-
H Utes ° gchvernmema sewers m one Pelison tive, judicial, and executive powers simul-
er g1;°up‘ Th e eelgplex hg   medegn seelety " taneously. This is the rule of the separation
requires suc a sc eme. o inson rusoe on V ef
_ _ _ powers.
his desert island needed no rules for the life of Fourth Every leeelitv shell have the right
hlmself ani his man Fmd;Y* Tim when men to look after its own affairs, free from outside
come toget er in any num er t ey must have ‘ interference Oh] h N · l G
_ _ _ . y t e ationa overnment
rules hy Wnlen te hve and governments. te eee shall deal with national affairs, and only the
tlllat fthey alle ohserveel. (The Colnsthutiolli, states and their subdivisions with matters pecu-
t ere ore, un erta es to ay own ru es or t e her to themselves This is the l {
_ . great ru e o
life ef the government ee the one hand and the local self-government summed up in the phrase:
hte of the mdwldual eluzen on the ether- “Ours is an indestructible union of indestruc-
tible States.”
WITHOUT going imo details, it may safely F ifth- The Ceurte Shell heve the right te pre- <
bc said that the cardinal rulcs which the (jon. tect and enforce the rules set forth in the Con-
stitution lays down for the American Govern- stitution, te d€C1¤1`6 ¤¤Y Act ef Cehgreee 0i`
mcht and which combing tc cgtahlish the im. legislature or President or governor or other
portance of the Constitution as a great achieve- Person Wnomsoever whieh eontrevenes the Con'
4 5 f

 _ stitution null and void. This is the rule of the , process of law and if, by disobedience to law
supremacy of the Constitution.   he has lost any of these rights, no punishment
‘ E, can be imposed upon him until he has had a
fair and open trial before a jury of his equals.
IT IS AN iatarastias fact than with the Pee' Equality and freedom—these are the consti-
sible exception of the Eighteenth Amendment mtional birthrigllt of every American
(which has been repealed), such restraints as
the Constitution contains are imposed upon the
Government and that such rights as it describes THE QUESTION which this generation and
are those of the citizen. Accordingly, the Con- every generation of Americans must settle for
stitution lays down for every citizen of the itself, as its fathers have done before it, is
United States two great fundamental rules. The whether it is satisfied with these rules and still
first is the rule of equality; the second is the desires to lead the sort of life for which they
y rule of freedom. provide. lf it is, it will resist every effort to
t It is the rule of equality that every person change the form of government which guaran-
born or naturalized in the United States shall tees these things. lf it is not, it will welcome
t have, as of right, all the rights and privileges such changes as will bring it what it seeks. But
A which any other citizen enjoys. No titles of may this generation be sure of what it seeks
' nobility shall ever be granted to raise one man and of the adequacy of the proposed changes
_ or set of men above the rest. No state shall by to secure it.
its laws discriminate against the citizens of any Those who offer advice may fairly be asked U
_ other state. No one shall be a slave or serf or what government and what manner of life in all
t subject to any man, but an equal citizen to the world they would prefer. If they tell us
U whom the equal protection of the law shall that we are unhappy, let them name those who
~ U never be denied. And by the equal protection are happier; if oppressed, those who are more
of the law is meant not merely fair and im- free; if poor and downtrodden, those who are
U partial trials, but the protection of laws that more prosperous. If we are to change our
h are themselves just and equal. Wherever the moorings, let them show us a safer harbor. Aim-
U citizen comes into contact with the law, and less discontent will lead us nowhere.
Q wherever the law touches the citizen, there shall   The cracked-brain theories of a communistic
  be no distinction of race or creed or condition U society may reduce everybody to a ghastly com-
U in life. t U   mon level, but it can raise none and visions of
U And under the rule of freedom, every citizen   a happy land far, far away, free from toil and
who is willing to obey the laws shall be free weariness and pain, belong to the next world r
A to live his own life in his own way in pursuit and not to this.
j of his own interest and desires. So long as he ·
V respects the rights of his fellows, he may think
T as he will, speak in public or in private as he WE MUST ¤€V€t` fcrsct that tht-? Gcvcrnmcnt
  will, and Worship God in such manner gg he does DOI, C&1”1I10t exist apart from its officers;
A prefers, D0 matter hew many er hew few may that the idea of an “essential” state, of some l
share in his epjnjens_ A1] that he earns by mystical force or power which is greater than A
y honest means shall be his and no man shall take and abcvc tt1€$€ 0H`t¢€I‘S and ttm pccplc, is 0111Y
ir from him. Neither life, ner liberty, nor prop- a mcdcrn Supcratiticn, a metaphysical fancy
erty Shall be taken from   except   due such HS may IIBVC TIS place in I°C1igl.O`I]S thought,

 but which is false and extremely dangerous in V
political thought.
The framers of the Constitution recognized
this and builded accordingly. We would do l
well to remember the fate of those who worship
false gods.
(Reprinted from “Nati0n’s Business”)
8

 PAMPHLETS PAMPHLETS
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
(comtnum)
   
COPIES of thc fouofnug pamphlets Two Amazing Years-Speech by Nicholas
and other League literature may be Roosevelt
obtained upon application to the Le§islat;1ot;—I;y Coegxgzion or Constitution-
s · peec y ouett ouse
League S natmnal hcadquart€rB° The Imperilment of Democracy—Speech by
Statement of Principles and Purposes Fitzgerald Hall
American Liberty League——Its Platform The Spirit of Americanism——Speech by Wil-
The $4,880,000,000 Emergency Relief Appro— liam H. Ellis
priation Act The Test of Citizenship—Speech by Dean
The Bonus Carl W. Ackerman
Inflation 'I`oday’s Lessons for Tomorrow—Speech by
The Tl1i1'tY HOU? W66k Bill Captain William H. Stayton
Thc H01di¤g C0mP¤¤Y Bm "Breathing Spe11s"——Speech by Jouett Shouse .
Price Control The Duty of the Lawyer in the Present
The Labor Relations Bill ‘ Crisis—Speech by James M. Beck
The Farmers’ Home Bill The Constitution and the Supreme Court——
The TVA Amendments Speech by Borden Burr
The Supreme Court and the New Deal The Economic Necessity in the Southern
The Revised AAA Amendments States for a Return to the Constitution--
The President’s Tax Program Speech by Forney lohnston
Expanding Bureaucracy The National Lawyers Committee of the
Lawmaking by Executive Order American Liberty League-Speech by
New Deal Laws in Federal Courts Ethan A. H. Shepley
Potato Control - Our Growing National Debt and Inflation—-
Consumers and the AAA Speech by Dr. E. W. Kemmerer
Budget Prospects Inflation is Bad Business———Speech by Dr.
Dangerous Experimentation Neil Carothers
Economic P1anning—Mistaken But Not New The Real Significance of the Constitutional
Work Relief t Issue——Speech by R. E. Desvernine
The AAA and Our Form of Govemment Arousing Class Prejudices—-Speech by Iouett
Alternatives to the American Form of Gov- Shouse
ernment · The Fallacies and Dangers of the Townsend
A Program for Congress · P1an—Speech by Dr. Walter E. Spahr
The 1937 Budget What of 1936?-—Speech by Iames P. Warburg ‘
Professors and the New Deal Americanism at the Crossroads——Speech by
Wealth and Income R. E. Desvernine
The President Wants More Power (leaflet) The Constitution and the New DeaI———Speech
The Townsend Nightmare (leaflet) by Iames M. Carson
The National Labor Relations Act——Summary The American Constitution-Whggg Hcrjt.
of Conclusions from Report of the National ege?—Speech by Frederick H. Stinchfield
,_ Lawyers pommltwe The American Form of Government—Let Us
muws Whlch Tcu . . Preserve It—Speech by Albert C. Ritchie
A¤CQg;g;·w*;j¤*¤¤ *0 the P¤=¤=·*·=¤*—By Dr- Ned The Retiiettiiititiee ei i>ewet—s,teeet. ey
.lohn W. Davis
Hggvzrgz Meet the ISSue_Speech by Wl E. Time to Stop——Speech by Dr. Neil Carothers
The Duty of the Church to the Social ()pdcy.. The Pres1dent Has Made the Issue——Speech
Speech by S_ Wells Utley by Charles I. Dawson d E
The American _Bar——The Trustee of Ame;. Théemlggsts In the Case———Speech by Alfre -
;;;r;hignst1tut1ons—Speech by Albert C. Th'; Towgsféld Ut0pia_Spe€ch by DT. Ray
ester e