Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-06

sented his confession Of faith. which
will be accepted as the principles up
on which the progressive party will
ask for the support Of the voters of
the nation.
Mr.. RoostWelt's speech strikes key
note for his followers and supporters
in the new party. 1t lays down the plan
Of battle to be waged by the National
Progressive party. He discusses those
principles under twelve subdivisions
namely, the helplessness Of the old par
ties, the right Of the people to rule. the
courts and the people, constructive con-
strol Of the trusts. rights Of the wage
worker. the farmer, the tariff, the high
cost of living, currency, conservation,
Alaska and international affairs. "The
two old parties" he said, ARE husks,
with no real soul within either, divided
on artificial lines. boss ridden and priv
ilege controlled, each tumble OF In
congruous elements and neither daring
to speak out wisely and fearlessly what
should be said on the vital issues OF
the day" As opposed to this 1ncon-
gruity and insincerity Of action he as
serted that the National Progressive
platform Will be "a contract With the
people," with definite aud concrete pro-
vision to be carried out II the people
ratify the contract on election day as
exactly and honestly "as If 1t were &C.
tually enforceable under the law" .
No Help From the Old Party Machines.
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
irresistible movement for economic
change and improvement must be guild
ed by common sense and the highest
ethical standards in order to prevent
reasonable evolution from becoming
dangerous revolution. The Democratic
party. as Is indicated by Its present rec
ord in congress, lacks the common
sense and the Republican party, By its
record Of stolen delegates at the Chi
cago convention, lacks the ethical
standards.
The men who presided over the Chi
cago and Baltimore conventions and
the great bosses who controlled the
two conventions-Mr. Root and Mr..
Parker, Mr.. Barnes and Mr.. Murphy.
Mr. Penrose and Mr.. Taggart, Mr..
Guggenheim and Mr.. Sullivan-diner
from one another, Of course, on GER
tain points. but these are the differ
ences which one corporation lawyer
has with another corporation lawyer
when acting for different corporations.
They come together at once as against
a common enemy when the dominion
Of both is threatened by the supremacy
of the people Of the United States.
If this country IS really to go
forward along a path Of social and eco
nomic Justice there must be new
party Of nation wide and nonsectfonal
principles, a party where the titular
national chiefs and the real state lead
ers shall be in genuine accord, party
supreme. party that shall represent
in the nation and the several states
alike the same cause. the cause Of hui
man rights and Of governmental eff
ciency." The reassertion Of the states
rights doctrine Of the Democratic party
cripples and forecloses any real or gen.
uine relief to the people. 1t reduces
! their promises to hopeless and empty
phrases. The mission and spirit Of this
progressive movement will thrill the
republic from end to end.
| Tho Right Of the People 20 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 presi-
dental primaries, popular election OF
senators, the short ballot efficient cor
rupt practices act, qualified use of the
initiative and referendum and recall.
The recall should be applied to admin
istrative officers.
| Mr.. Roosevelt asserts that the adcr-
ton of these new methods OF political
administration is not antagonistic to
representative government. Gall de-
sire to do by securing more direct con-
troll of the governmental agents and
representatives of the people 10 to give
the people the chance to make thetI
representatives really represent them
whenever the government becomes
misrepresentation instead Of represent.
alive. have not come to this way Of
thinking from closest study or as a
mere matter Of theory. have been
forced to it by long experience with