New-York tribune., 1909-01-29
MR.. ROOT OUTLINES
COURSE AS SENATOR
DEFINES LINES OF STATE
AND FEDERAL POWER.
!Sendtor-elect WOuId Maintain Pres
fige of States-4gainst Direct
Election of Senators.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

IBy Telegraph The Trihunel
Albany Jan. 2S.-In a speech to the houses Of
the Legislature in joint session this noon Elhu
Root United States Senator elect. declared him
self opposed to the direct election of United
States Senators and the initiative and referen-
dunn or anything else which would tend TO be-
little or weaken the powers Of legislatures.
while he made reference to direct primary
nominations and did rot touch the political
situation save to say that he wanted TO get into
touch with current affairs here become person
ally acquainted with the lead Of opinion and
nolitioaI action and advise with them, the trend
~ his utterances such that oldtime re-
dictionary leaders chose TO consider it an indica-
,,nn Of difference from Governor Hughes on
those subjects.
Incidentally NJ. Root expressed his strong
approval of the parcels post system. and in
doing so gave what Senator termed a vale
6ictorv Of somewhat unwelcome flavor" to Sen
,tor Platt.
The speech Of the Senator elect was a strong
setting forth of his views centralized fed
.rsi government. along the lines of his memor-
able address before the Pennsylvania Society.
coupled with a showing of the danger Of the
breaking down OF the federal machinery from
overstrain il too great Capitalization Of power
resulted and the decadence OF the state govern
ments IL the federal power took too much on
itself. From this he developed the thought that
rigid observance OF the limitations set by law
upon them demanded Of all public officers,
The powers and dignity of legislatures must be
maintained he declared
I am opposed to the direct election OF SEN
stors as am opposed to the initiative and ref
erenduu1.' said the speaker. because these
things based the idea that the people
cannot elect legislatures whom they trust They
proceed the idea OF abandoning the attempt
10 elect trustworthy and competent state legis-
latures, but If you abandon that attempt, II
you begin to legislate to amend constitutions
upon that theory. what becomes of all the other
powers OF the state legislatures in maintaining
the system Of local self-government under the
Constitution? We must come down for success
ful government to the due performance OF citi-
zens' duties ct the polls. and there is no reason
10 believe the citizens would perform their duty
IN the direct election OF Senators in voting
upon the initiative the referendum any bet
ter than they perform II in the election of MEM
bers Of the senates and assemblies OF their
states"
SPEECH AROUSES COMMENT.
e. Mr.. Roots speech aroused much comment
here. It was taken by most politicians an
p Indication that he was willing to become a real
state leader" OF opinion and political action-a
post 70 which most Of the anti-Hughes leaders
have been assigning him in the fervent hope
that he would take the Job OF displacing. wiping
out and annihilating not only the Governor po-
iiticaIIv but his political ideas and methods AS
matte Of fact Of the cooler headed and
more farsighted men here declare that Mr.. Root
never can descend TO be state leader in the
sense Of handling small affairs in state politics.
as come state leaders have done. and that II
he actually to show disposition to take
hold CT state political affairs to the degree
which sor1e Of the anu-Hughes men are talking
about. they would be the first ones to protest
Mr. Root, they argue is in his broad. general
ideas too big and progressive for the comfort
OF the anti Hughes leaders Of smaller stamp.
senator-elect Root spoke IN the Assembly
chamber from the Speakers desk. Every gal
iery full TO its utmost capacity, and the
floor of the Assembly chamber thronged
with spectators and attaches in the various state
departments. When Senator John Raines and
Mr.. Frisbie, minority leader Of the Assembly
escorted the Senator-elect 10 the desk there was
loud applause.
Mr Root looked tired He was visibly over
come with emotion for moment two in
deed. his voice trembled 50 he could scarcely
speak as he began to thank the Legislature for
the honor it had conferred on him. AS he went
on. though his voice cleared. and when he got
into his stride frequent bursts Of applause in
terrupted him.
MR. ROOTS SPEECH.
Mr. Root spoke follows:
MT. President, Mr. Speaker, Gentlemen of the
Senate and Of the Assembly: I have thank you
most sincerely for the very great honor which you
tunity that you have set before represent IN
the Senate Of the United States the state Of my
birth and Of my life. ] shall do my best to justify
your selection with not much confidence in the
result because DO not think that rule law
Sers who have been many years al the bar and
whose habits have become fixed make very good
legislators, when they are not caught young
daughter and applause) And / have rather
uncomfortable that Il will be quite impossible
for 70 live UP the many kindly and delight
friends IN the State of New York during the last
Few
have Albany IN the hope of meeting
ihe who leaders of opinion and Of political
action IL the State of New York and who are. as
tney ought 20 be. In the two houses which ieg1s-
ate for the state 1t is my strong desire 10 get
INTO touch with you the representatives OF the
people in the STATE Legislature, have been for
me greater Of the last ten years in Washing
ton engrossed in the affairs of the national gov
OF the United States. and / feel that little
out Of touch with the affairs OF the state
would like @ get back into that knowledge
y 20 familiarity with them that had ten years ago.
would be glad 10 establish such personal re
esstion Of acquaintance with every member OF the
senate AMI the Assembly that II you have any
lhlng to say your Senator in-f congress
YOU VIII feel a liberty to do and that If have
anything o ] shall feel at liberty to
regard TO the filing Of Offices daughter). although
ever Senator OF the United States Is charged with
rnv uynpK