The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-21
COURTS MUST ANSWER TO
PEOPLE, SAYS ROOSEVELT
Former President Declares He
Will Never Abandon Effort To
See This View Triumph.

NEW YORK, Oct 2O-The judici-
airy of the United States must be
broAght within the control and an
swerable 10 the well-thought-out Judg-
ment OF the people, in the opinion OF
Theodore Roosevelt. who spoke last
night on THE conservation OF woman
hood and childhood" before the Civic
Forum. This control. In Mr.. Roose-
velt's judgment, should be exercised
more cautiously and in different fash
ion than the control by the people
over the legislator and the executives;
but the control must be there"
Control OF judges, Mr.. Roosevelt
said, was but half-although by far
the more important part-of a pro-
gram which should be carried out for
proper conservation Of manhood, wo-
manhood and childhood. The first
half OF the program, he said, consist
ed In placing on the statute books OF
nation and states legislation to rem
edy existing defects, The former
president spoke at length OF what he
termed crying abuses connected with
child labor"
Mr. Roosevelt advocated enactment
by congress of the bill providing for
a bureau to be known as the chill
dren's bureau, and to gather, classify
and distribute accurate information
on all subjects relating TO the welfare
OF children. He urged working wo-
men to organize as workingmen are
now organized, and declared that New
York should put stop to manufactur-
ing in tenement houses.
Experience In the last 25 years, the
speaker declared, has shown that
while the people may be aroused TO
sound and high thinking and their
legislative and executive officers try
to carry out their purpose, yet that
the whole movement for good may
come TO naught, because certain
Judges, certain courts, are STEPPED in
some outworn political or social
philosophy and totally misapprehend
their relations to the people and TO
the public needs" He continued:
Il am entirely aware that no mat
ter how carefully l guard what have
to say, no matter how cautiously and
exactly state the bald facts and
truths that we shall all recognize,
yet, that what I say will assuredly be
misrepresented by certain persons
with deliberate purpose of mislead-
ing honest and conservative citizens
into the belief that am advocating
something radical and revolutionary
and destructive of our governmental
system and that | am making an at
tack upon the judges. But feel that
1t is my highest duty to speak plainly
on this subject, SO vital TO our well
fare.
II have the very highest regard,
the highest respect and admiration
for the judiciary. | believe the courts
have rendered our people incalculable
services. | criticize the decision OF
judges only by adopting as my own
the language used about these same
decisions by the highest judges in the
land; by, for instance, the present
chief justice OF the United States, MI.
Justice White, by Mr.. Justice Holmes,
by that great and upright servant or
the people, the lamented Justice Har-
Ian. by the supreme court of the state
OF Iowa and the supreme court of the
state of Washington. | have never
taken a position in advance of that
taken by Abraham Lincoln.
81 most emphatically believe that
we have been wise in giving great
power TO our judges, But also most
firmly believe that like any other pow
er this power can be abused and that
1t is a power from which the people
have merely temporarily parted and
not one which they have permanently
alienatcd.
II for one hold that II majority
of the people after due deliberation
come TO champion such social and
economic reforms as these we cham
pion, they have the right 10 see them
enacted into law and become a part
OF our settled governmental policy
and | shall never abandon the effort
TO see this view triumph"