The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-30

II they get a chance. Stand by the
clear headed man, and above all by
the man whose deeds make good his
Words
DENOUNCES SUPREME COURT.
Col. Roosevelt Also Attacks the Press
and the Rich Man.
Denver, Aug. s0.-Acts of the SUI
preme court of the United States were
sharply criticised by Theodore Roose-
welt in an address in the state ca pitol
here before the Colorado legislature.
The former president cited two deci-
sions by the supreme court, which he
declared were contrary to the princi-
Piles of democracy, and he said en-
phatfcally that if those decisions in
dicated the permanent attitude of the
court the entire American system of
popular government would be upset.
Colonel Roosevelt's speech before
the legislature was one of five which
he delivered in Denver Everywhere
he went he was greeted by cheering
multitudes which blockaded the streets
interfered with traffic and packed to
suffocation the various buildings in
which he spoke. The auditorium, in
which he delivered his speech on con-
servation, holds $4,000 people and vet
it was large enough to seat only a part
of the throng which clamored for adj
mission. The streets outside the build
ing were crowded with other thou
sands who sought in vain to gain ad-
mittance
81 just feel as if I'd like to stay
here for good Colonel Roosevelt said
speeches. He added that he was taken
utterly by surprise by the size of the
crowds which turned out to greet him.
From the moment he arrived here
until he went to bed, Colonel Roose-
welt was kept on the move. In addi-
iC IN
under the auspices of the National
Live Stock association and his speech
before the legislature. he addressed
the Spanish war veterans, who were
holding their encampment here: the
Live stock association at a banquet
and the Denver Press club at a
chuck wagon" luncheon at Overland
park.
The chamber of the house of repre-
sentatives at the Capitol was filled
with crowd which cheered him so fire.
quently that he had difficulty in pro-
ceeding with his speech. On the wall
behind the colonel was a huge picture
of President Taft draped with the
colors.
Attacks the Press.
In addition to his remarks censoring
the supreme court, Col. Roosevelt de-
nounced dishonest legislators and DEM
agogues. He scored men of wealth who
gain their riches at the expense of the
people, attacked untruthful newspapers
and magazines, and praised the period
1calS and newspapers, which. he said,
boldly told the truth in order to purify
the body polite.
Governor Shafroth and Mayor Speer
occupied seats near the colonel, who
was presented to the legislators by
President Fitzgerald of the state SEN
ate.
The colonel faced legislature that
was Democratic in both branches. one
member of the house being a woman.
He was presented by the president of
the senate as a typical westerner."
Reminding his auditors that he had
been member of the New York legis-
lature 20 years ago, the colonel assured
the legislators that he knew of the
hard work before them and the tempta-
lions to which they were exposed
Then Colonel Roosevelt delivered his
formal speech, which was as follows:
ct am anxious that the nation and
the state shall each exercise its legit1-
mate powers to the fullest degree.
Where necessary they should work to-
gether, but above all they should not
leave a neutral ground in which Meth
er state nor nation can exercise au-
thority and which would become
place of refuge for men who wish to
act criminally, and especially for the
very rich men who wish to act against
the interests of the community as
whole.
LET me illustrate what I mean by
a reference to two concrete cases. The
first is the knight Sugar Trust case.
In that the supreme court of the
United States under cover of what a
man whose interest is chiefly in sane,
constructive stewardship can only call
a highly technical legal subtiety, hand-
ed down a decision which rendered 1t
exceedingly difficult for the nation eff
fectively to control the use of masses
of corporate capital in interstate bust
ness, as the nation obviously was the
sole power that could exercise this con-
troll (for it was quite beyond the pow
err of any one stated. This was really
a decision rendering it exceedingly diff
f1cult for the people to devise any
method of controlling and regulating
state commerce. 1t was decision
nominally against national rights. but
really against popular rights.
The Bake Shop Case.
"The second case is the socalled
New York bake shop case. In New
York city. as in most large cities. the
baking business is likely to be carried
on under unhygienic conditions. condi-
tions which tell against the welfare of
the workers and therefore against the
welfare of the general public. The
New York legislature passed and the
New York governor signed bill
remedying these improper conditions
New York state was the only body that
could deal with them; the nation had
no power whatever in the matter.
s'Acting on information which to them
seemed ample and sufficient: acting in
the interest Of the public and in &C
cordance with the demand of the pub
lie. the only governmental authority
having affirmative power in the matter,
the governor and the legislature of New
York, took the action which they deem
ed necessary after what inquiry and
study was needed to satisfy them as
to the conditions and as to the remedy
The governor and the legislature alone
had the affirmative power to remedy the
abuse But the supreme court of the
United States possessed and unfortu-
nately exercised. the negative power of
not permitting tne ABUSE 10 De rene
clared the action of the state of New
York, unconstitutional because for