Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-21
Col. Rooseve|t's Address
Monday al Phoenix.
DecTles Action Of Last Congress
In Refusal Of Statehood.
Believes Adoption Of Initiative and
Referendum the Cause.

Phoenix, Ariz., March 20-Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt addressed one OF
the largest throngs ever assembled In
the southwest on the plaza here today,
his theme being Arizona statehood.
Colonel Roosevelt arrived from Mosa
at noon, attended luncheon given In
his honor by members of his former
Rough Rider regiment and then pro-
ceeded to the plaza. He said in part:
Il regret that Arizona was not ad-
mitted to statehood by the last Con-
gress and | trust that the next Con-
gross will admit it. The objections
to admitting it. l regard as with.
out warrant of justice. Apparently
these objections have been chiefly or
entirely due to the fact that Arizona
has adopted in its constitution the
referendum, initiative and recall
Il do not agree with the form in
which Arizona adopted the recall, es-
pecially as regards the judiciary; but
While l regret that Arizona should
have adopted the recall in this fash
ion. I not merely admit but insist that
this is a matter purely for Arizona's
right to the privilege of statehood.
What the views of New York and
tNtiS uIott tilt IucStlOll Uc Has
nothing to do with Arizonas right to
its own views.
"The principles of the initiative and
referendum may or may not be adapt
ed to the needs of a given state un-
der given conditions--I believe they
are useful in some communities. and
not in others--but to deny a territory
the right of statehood because 1t has
adopted these principles is as wrong
as to say that Vermont should not
be state because its governmental
system is based upon the principle of
the town meeting. If the constitu-
ton of the United States forbids the
use Of tho referendum or initiative,
then the constitution should be amend
ed without Gelay.
Il am strong nationalist, but l am
no less a believer in the rights of the
states wherever the rights of the
states mean the rights of the people.
and in this case the rights of the
people include the right of the peo-
pie Of any state to decide upon any
course of action 1t deems best in this
matter. The United States govern
ment is in honor bound to admit Ari-
iona under its present constitution.
Now, my friends, while in the fullest
way / thus acknowledge your right to
form the constitution that you have
formed and to be admitted hereunder
to fall membership in the Federal
union. I also wish it distinctly under
stood that while there are many pro-
visions in your proposed constitution
with which / most heartily agree,
there are some with which I disagree,
and notably among these Is the pro-
vision of the recall, especially affect
ing The judiciary.
II admit the melancholy fact that
there are states where judges have
SO acted as to make 1t justifable and
necessary for the people to adopt
measures for retiring all such judges
from Office. But, speaking generally
and as regards most communities un-
der lormal conditions feel that 1t Is
to the interest of the decent citizens
who want nothing but justice In its
broadcast and truest sense, not to adopt
any measure which would make judges
timid, which would make them fear
full lest deciding rightly in some CIV
en- case might arouse a storm of an
ger temporary but fatal
Some way should be provided.
which, in extreme cases and after
careful elaboration, 1t should be pos
sible to remove a judge even though
the circumstances would not justify
his Impeachment. but I think that
some much wiser method than that
you nave devised in your constitution
should be adopted.
I'm frAnPht
with such possibility of mischief, as
the recall of judges, as you have pro-
vided for. should not be adopted until
by actual experiment you are driven
to it as a necessary but regrettable
method OF doing away with some even
worse evil. !
1.-THE initiative, referendum and re-
call are not in themselves ends of VAL
ue--they are simply means for the
achievement Of an end"