The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-27
Col. Roosevelt Starts His Gam
paign for the Presidency
With a Speech Before the Mas
sachusetts Legislature.
He TELLS WHAT He MEANT
By His Previous Announcement
Regarding a Third Term.
Declares the Word "Consecu-
tive'' Was Implied.

/ Boston Feb 27.-Colonel Roosevelt
plunged into the thick of the fight for
the presidential nomination today. He
said unequivocally that he was in the
fight to the end and was glad of it. He
replied to the charge that ne would be
breaking his third term pledge if he ac-
cepted another nomination, and assert
ed that whether or not he should be the
choice Of his party at the Chicago con-
vention, he would abide by its decision.
ct am perfectly happy now" said ne,
because I am making a straight out
fight for a principle. The issue is IN
no way a personal one
do you intend to support the Repub-
lican nominee, whoever he may pe?
was asked.
of course, I SHALL" he replied. with
emphasis.
In response TO inquiries as to the
principle for which he is fighting, Col
onel Roosevelt referred questioners to
his speeches in Columbus. o. last week
and before the Massachusetts house
In the latter address he defended his
proposal for limited recall of judicial
decisions and championed the right Ct
popular opinion to control the mach1n-
cry of government.
Colonel Roosevelt's position in regard
to the third term" was explained to a
number of his callers
my position is perfectly simple he
said. Il stated it as clearly as 1 could
in 1904 and reiterated it in 1907 said
I would not accept q nomination for
third term under any circumstances,
meaning, of course, a third consecutive
term.
IT could not have said less at the
time nor could I have said more. OF
course. I could not then know whether
or not there would be a demand for me
to accept a nomination at some future
time. And. believing, as I do. that the
selection of candidates for the pres1-
dency rests entirely with the people, 1
could not say that at no time in my
life would accept another nomination
The Third Term.
1T must be clear to any reasonable
man that the precedent Which forblds
the third term has reference only to
A third consecutive term. It grew out
of the fact that a president of the
United States, under the present con-
vention system of electing delegates,
can. if he knows how to use the ma
chinery at his disposal, re-nominate
himself, even though the majority OF
his party is against him. But after he
has been out of office for a term, he
has lost control O. that machinery. He
is in the position absolutely of any
private citizen. The machinery is then
in the hands of the man occupying the
office of president"
Colonel Roosevelt devoted a large
part of the day TO comforting with men
who are forming the Roosevelt organ.
liza ton in MasSa chuSettS. He told them
he would not identify himself actively,
70 the present at least, with the or
ganization He also talked for some
time with Governor Robert Bass, of
New Hampshire, whom he is to meet
again.
Colonel Roosevelt promised to send
a letter to be read at Roosevelt rally,
which will be held here Saturday night
by the Progressive Republican league.
Governor Stubs of Kansas, ex-Gov-
emo Fort of New Jersey, and Senator
Clapp, of Minnesota, are expected TO
speak.
Recall of Judicial Decisions.
Standing in the assembly chamber
of the Massachusetts capitol, Colonel
Roosevelt explained and emphasized his
new project for the limited recall of
judicial decisions He struck out boldly
at those who have criticized his PLAN
Our system of government is a con
fessed failure he said, unless the peO-
pie are to be trusted to govern them
selves"
Colonel Rcsoevelt's visit to the state
house was unexpected. He was re-
ceived cordially, although there was no
prolonged applause during his speech.
At the outset of his speech Colonel
Roosevelt declared:
4 know you expect me to speak to
YOU today, telling you just what think
and believe He continued:
I'VE of today if we are worthy of
endeavoring to lead the people Alright,
must be doing our part to secure social
and industrial justice through genuine
popular rule, and our object was set
forth by the great Italian radical lead
err Mazzini, when he wrote NO war or
classes, no hostility to existing wealth,
no Wanton or unjust violation of the
rights of property, but a constant dis
position to ameliOrate the conditions OF
the classes least favored by fortune
i afy 70 1n1ro hot fea--
not merely politically but industrially,
the condition of those least favored by
fortune. I favor direct nominations,
direct primaries, including direct pre-
ferential presidential primaries, not
only for local, but for state delegates
I believe in the adoption of wisely cho-
sen devices under which the initiative
and referendum can be used not as
ment but to make representative, to
see it corrected if it becomes misrepre-
sentative.
INV position is that if the people
know enough to make the constitution
they know enough in the last resort 70
saw Wat they meant when they made
II AS regards the national cOnstitu-
tion. there must necessarily be some
hodys capable of deciding the limits of
mower between the nation and the sew
oral states Which If we come to dis
cuss the relative claims of conflicting
sovereignties each sovereign in its own
..The state constitution of any state
has nothing analogous to that about it.
There is no question in a state of any
Conficting sovereignties. There is only
one sovereignty, the sovereignty of the
people You are not the sovereigns,
neither is the executive, neither is the
Judiciary all three of you possess
powers delegated to you by the peo-
pie.
People Are the Masters.
ssTn the last resort, the people after
dine elaboration are to be and must be
the masters and their representatives
their servants. It was Abraham Lin
aoJz, who i, his first inaugural, spoke