The Detroit times., 1910-09-19
|00sEvE[I GIVES
TAFT RECOGNITION
IN ADDRESS
Former Precedent Says Present Ex.
suutivs Made Good Record In
All Public omcss, Including
That Of Nations Head.
Colonel Quotes Words of Taft to
Show He Was Within Rights in
Criticixing Supreme Court.

SYRACUSE. N. Y. Sept 17.-ln
the strongest speech he has delivered
since his return from Africa, Col
Theodore Roosevelt today defended
his New Nationalism." Fifty thous-
and people az the New York State
Fair listened eagerly to the address
A carefully worded indorsemert Of
certain Taft policies marked the
speech. The steps taken toward Sc
curing q tariff commission, the max
tmum and minimum tariff provision.
the Philippine tariff arrangement, all
received the Roosevelt stamp OF ap-
prevail.
In justifying his attack on the su-
preme court, delivered at Denver. the
colonel quoted at length from a Taft
decision OF fifteen years ago, which
commended honest criticism OF the
courts.
Roosevelt was in the center Of
"Standpat," "Old Guard" territory to-
day.
Everything that smacked in the
least Of progressive" or 'insurgent"
was consDicuous by its absence.
After referring TO the criticism that
has been made Of his speeches In the
west advocating the new nationalism.
Col. Roosevelt said, In part:
whether the principles / have ad-
vocated are sound or not can be an
swered, ! think, by the simple ex-
pedient OF asking whether any party
Is willing, frankly, to take the other
side OF the proposition. Of which CON-
plant Is made. II SO, IL would be a
good thing to have the issue made In
clear-cut fashion before the people.
for In the end the people would most
certainly decide in favor Of the prin-
ciples embodied In the new national
Ism, because otherwise, this country
could not continue to be a true re-
public, or true democracy"
Roosevelt then reiterated his state
ments regarding the two decisions Of
the supreme court and defended them.
saying that he merely took the posi-
ton that was taken. so far as the
knight case was concerned, by JUS
tice Harlan In his dissenting opinion.
Those who criticise me-" he con-
tinued, " are also criticizing Justice
Harlan. Do my critics take the posi-
ton that the people shall net be able
10 control the management and ac-
uvity OF those great mouopolistic cor.
p0rations doing an interstate business.
II 90, let them frankly ayow their
position. II not let them cease their
criticism.
What I had to say about the Sec
ond decision, which was against state
rights. was based upon dissenting
opinions by Justices Harlan, White,
Day and Holmes. Here, hold that
the dissenting justices were. right In
their views, that the state had the
right to regulate the hours of labor
under certain conditions. II II am
wrong, let those who criticise me
frankly say that the state has no
right to limit the hours Of labor of
men employed under unhealthy condi-
TONS"
Lincoln In Similar Role.
Fffty-three years ago Abraham Lin
coin was assailed for his repeated
criticisms Of the supreme court In tie
Dred-Scott case. Moreover. he used
very strong language about the de-
cision, far stronger than / should
dream Of using, or which ii would be
proper TO use about the decision with
which now deal But his view as to
bis right and duty to call attention to
an erroneous decision which vitality
affected the rights OF the people was,
l think, entirely sound. At any rate,
IL ] have erred In commenting as
have commented upon the decisions
mentioned, err in company with Alb
raham Lincoln"
He then referred to the criticisms
that have been made upon himself
and compared them with the crit.
cisms OF the Lincoln speech. He ar.
firmed his belief In the integrity OF
the courts, saying that the supreme
court Is the most influential tribunal
in the entire world.
Gives Taft Credit.
Continuing Roosevelt said: "Nor do
/ have only to go to the statesmen
OF the past for precedent. The pres.
ident OF the United States, Mr.. TAFT
has served his country honorably and
uprightly In, many positions--as Judge,
as governor OF the Philippines, as sec
rotary OF war and now as president
for, TO him and the congress acting
with him, We owe the creation OF the
tariff commission, the adoption or
maximum and minimum tariff law
treaties with foreign powers, proper
treatment Of the proposition under IN,
tarin. the Increase in efficiency of the
interstate commerce law, the begin
ming OF national legislative program
providing for the exercise of the tax
Ing power In connection with corpo
rauons doing an interstate business, a
postal savings bank bill, the consti-
tntion Of q commission TO report a
remedy for over-capitalization in con-
nection with the Issue of stocks and
bonds; but few OF his services are
more deserving of record than what
he said In this very matter OF criti.
c3sm of the judiciary.
~ Quotes Taft.
-Speaking as United States cir.
cilit court Judge fifteen years ago he
said: The opportunity. freely and
publicly, 10 criticise judicial action is
OF vastly more Importance to the body
polite than the immunity OF judges
from unjust aspersions and attack
In the case OF judges having
4 life tenure, indeed, their very indie.
pendence makes the right freely 10
comment on their decisions OF greater
importance, because II Is the only
practicable and available instrument
n the hands of free people to keep
such judges alive TO the reasonable
6ouands Of those they serve
Need New NstionsIism.