Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1912-08-14
ROOSEVELT GIVES
i PLAN OF BATTLE
Address of the Colonel Before the
Progressive Convention.
PRINCIPLES OF NEW PARTY
Leader DISCUSSES Courts and the Peo-
pie, Control of Trusts, Cost Of
Living. Tariff and Other
Great Issues.


Chicago. Aug. 6.-Theodore Roose-
welt today addressed the convention
OF the National Progressive party,
sounding the keynote for his followers
and laying down the plan Of battle to
be waged by the new party. He dis
eussed the principles of that party
under these twelve subdivisions: The
Helplessness of the Old Parties. The
Right of the People to Rule; The
Courts and the People; Constructive
Control OF the Trusts; Rights Of the
sWage-Worker; The Farmer; The Tar
in; The High Cost os Living: Cur
rency; Conservation; Alaska AMI In
ternationaI Affairs.
The two old parties" he said, "are
huskss with no real soul within either,
divided on artificial lines, boss-ridden
and privilege controlled. each jum-
bic OF incongruous elements. and Meth
er daring to speak out wisely and fear
lessly what should be said on the vital
issues of the day" AS opposed to
this incongruity and insincerity OF
action he asserted that the National
Progressive platform will be "a con-
tract with the people" With definite
and concrete provision to be carried
out If the people ratify the contract
on election day as exactly and honest
ly ''as If it were actually enforceable
under the law"
Oior Parties inadequate.
Following is q summary of the colo
ners speech:
Neither the Republican nor the Dem
ocratic platforms or managers show
any adequate recognition Of the mighty
fact that we are now in the midst OF
a great economic evolution" This ir-
resistible movement for economic
change and Improvement must be
guided by both common sense and
the highest ethical Standards In or
der to prevent reasonable evolution
from becoming dangerous revolution.
The Democratic party. as is indicated
by its present record in congress,
lacks the common sense, and the Re
publican party, by its record of stolen
delegates at the Chicago convention.
lacks the ethical standards.
Eight Of the People to Rule.
'The actions of the Chicago conven-
ton. and to an only less degree Of the
Baltimore convention, have shown in
striking fashion how little the people
do rule under our present conditions"
In order to assure this popular rule
Mr.. Roosevelt urged. the adoption Of
presidential primaries. popular cleo
ton of senators, the short ballot, eff
cient corrupt practices act, qualified
use OF the initiative. referendum. and
recall. The recall should be applied
to administrative officers. Mr. Roose-
welt asserted that the adoption OF
these new methods of political admin
istration is not antagonistic to repre-
sentative government. @All I desire
to do by securing more direct control
of the governmental agents and rep
resentatiyss of the people is to give
the people the chance to make their
representatives really represent them
whenever the government becomes
misrepresentation instead of represen-
tative. / have not come to this way
OF thinking from closet study or as a
mere matter OF theory. / have been
forced to 1t by long experience with
the actual conditions of our political
life"
The Courts and the People.
Under, this head Mr.. Roosevelt
strongly emphasized the necessity OF
the sovereign people preserving a
check on every branch of public serv-
ice. He reiterates his now weH-known
views regarding the courts, THE
American people, and not the courts.
are to determine their own fundamen-
tai policies" This does not mean that
the people are 70 interfere In cases
which involve merely questions of JUS
tice between individuals except that
means should be devised for making
It easier than at present to get rid. Of
an incompetent judgs.'' But when a
judicial decision involves an interpre-
tation of what the peop'e mean by the
constitutions which they have framed
and laws passed by the people are
nullitied because the courts say those
laws are contrary to the peoples win
as expressed in their constitution
there must be reference to the PEG
PIE Of the public effect of such secis-
ions under forms securing full DELHI
GRAFTON" to the end that the people
may rectify this alleged defect in their
constitution by popular vote having
all the force Of a constitutional amend
ment. Our purpose is not to impugn
the courts, but to ernancipate them
from a position whenever they stand
finally in the way Of social justice.