Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-02-21
P0osEVELT,s PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.

ora THEODORE RoosEvELTs address to the Ohio Constitutional
Il Convention today expresses views Numerically opposed to
those that have been enunciated by President Taft in his
public addresses and expressed in his words and acts at Wash
ington. Ii reveals the gulf that has opened within the Republican
party, a gulf that cannot be bridged. It brings Roosevelt and his
policies out in the open against Taft and his policies and makes
issues for the Republican party that are utterly beyond compro'
mise. Much of Roosevelts address is a repetition of his well
known views. But he has progressed in his progressive principles,
and while he does not share the radicaHsm of La Toilette, he ap
proaches near to it in his opinions regarding the initiative and
referendum and the recall. The keynote of the address is sounded
in The Introduction: 81 believe in pure democracy. believe that
human rights are supreme over all other rights That is the text
Of the address. The political contest this year is looked upon as
"one of the great BATTLES of the agelong contest waged against
privilege on behalf of common welfare and the prime duty of
the people is to "free our government from the control of money
in politics" Besides the conservation of our great natural re-
sources for the people be would "stop the waste of life in industry
and prevent the waste of human welfare which flows from the I'M
fair nse Of concentrated mower and wealth" In the body of his adj
dress Roosevelt discusses the means of remedy within the power of
The nation. He is a consdtutonalist, but not of the kind that favors
the theory that makes a constitution an instrument TO thwart the
peoples wishes and prevent them from ruling themselves. Con
stitutions must be interpreted to tit human rights. They should be
readily amendable at all times The only prosperity worth having
is "tbat which affects the mass of the people" Roosevelt favors
big business "properIy controlled by government He scouts the
policy that attacks legitimate enterprise as well as the illegitimate,
and tries to restore the business conditions of the last century.
The business system of today had come to stay. When State
regulation should prove inadequate W should not stop at govern
ment control Of monopoly prices, il necessary. Things should be
shaped so that dishonest fortunes could not be acquired. There
should be national and State regulation of the terms and conditions
of labor. Among the principles laid down by Roosevelt are direct
election of United States senators, the initiative and referendum
and the recall under proper restriction with the recall of Judges
AS the last resort. Practically there was no way in which to get
li&nf an unworthy judge, as impeachment had failed. Throughout
his address Roosevelt ayows an enduring fa1th IN the people. he
believes they arc more nearly right in their recorded judgments
Than the rulers or judges. He quotes Lincoln to the same effect.
In brief. the Roosevelt address today is the Roosevelt platform
which his supporters will carry TO Chicago in June and upon which
they believe they will nominate him. But whether the nominee
shall be Roosevelt or Taft, two candidates rs wide apart in their
principles as the North and South poles. the Republican party
elec1inn.