The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-30
SUPREME COURT
ACTS CRITICIZED
BY ROOSEVELT /
Declares Decisions Cons
trary to Principles
of Democracy.
REFERS TOTWO
CONCRETE CASES
Thinks There Would Be Real
Cause for Alarm if Attitude Is
to Be Permanent Urges
Coherent Work Between
National and State
Governments.
Thinks There Would Be Real
Cause for Alarm If Attitude Is

Governments.
Denver, Col, August 29.--Acts of thu
Supreme Court Of the United stn+c.
were sharply criticized by Theodor.
a.oosevcIt to-day In nm address In the
stnte capitol here before the Colorado
Legislature. The former President
cited two decisions by the Supreme
Court, which, he declared, were con-
trary TO the principles of idemocracy
ana said emphntically that IL those de-
cisions Indicated the permanent NTH
tuGe of the court the entire American
system of popular government would
be upset.
Colonel Roosevelt's speech before the
Legislature was one of five that he de-
!ivered in Denver to-day. Everywhere
ne went he was greeted by cheering
multitndes. The Auditorium in which s
he delivered his speech on conserya
ton, holds $1,000 people, and vet /.
was large enough to seat only part
OF the throng that sought admission.
speaking to the Colorado Legislature.
Mr. Roosevelt said:
Il am anxious that the nation an,
the state shall each exercise its leriti.
mate powers to the fullest degree
When necessary they should work S.
sether,. but above all they should not
leave neutral ground in which neitn
er State nor nation can exercise an
thoflty and which would become ),
piace OF refuge for men who wish to
act criminally, and especially for thu
Very rich men who wish to act against
the interests of the community as n
! whole. -
Against Popular Rights.
Let us illustrate What ! mean by.
/ reference to two concrete cases. The
first is the knight sugar trust case.
In that the Supreme Court of thss
United States. under cover OF what
! sane constructive stewardship can only
call highly technical legal subtle
| way. handed down q decision which
rendered II exceedingly difficult for tho
nation effectively to control the uso
of masses of corporate capital In in
terstatc business, as the nation OBJ.
viously was the sole power that could
exercise this control (for It was quite
beyond the power of any one Statey.
This was really decision rendering
IT exceedingly difficult for the people
to devise any method of controlling
and regulating the business use OF
gerat capital in Interstate commerce.
1t was decision nominally against
national rights. but really against
popular TlSD Us. 5s3ss
The second case is the so-called
New York bake shop case. In New
York City. as in most large cities. tho
baking business is likely to be carried
on under unhygienic conditions, which
tell on the welfare of the workers. and
therefore against the welfare OF the
general public. The New York Legis-
1ature passed and the New York Gov
ernor signed. a bill renedying these
%t
was the only body that could deal
with them; the nation had no proper
place in the matter,
Acting on information. which to
them seemed ample and sufficient, act
ing in the interest of the public. and
in accordance with the demand OF the
public. the only governmental au-
.thority having affirmative power ii,
tho matter. the Governor and the Leg
islature of New York. took the action
which they deemed necessary, after
what inquiry and study was needed
to satisfy them as to the condition and
as to. the remedy. ss
1.-THE Governor and the Legislature
alone had the atfirna tive power to #
remedy the abuse. But the Supreme
Court OF the United States possessed
and unfortunately exercised the mega u
tive power OF not permitting the abuse
TO be remedied by five to four vote y
they declared the action In the State
of New York unconstitutional, because
forsooth that mon must not be de-
prived of their liberty to work under
conditions. They We're. Of
course, themselves powerless to mako
the remoteSt attempt to provide
remedy for the wrong which undoubt-
cdly existed. and their refusal to per.
attraction by the State did not confer
any power upon the nation to act.