The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-22
STILL rAL,,Ixc OFF pLATrrupEs.

Ii has been said OF Mr.. Roosevelt
that, more than any other man In pub
lie life to-day. lie anticipates and un-
derstands the temper OF the American
people. If his utterance before the
Ohio Constitutional Convention yester-
dsy be viewed In that light, the good
chip of state is soon TO be rocking on
che tempestuous high seas OF chaos
and revolution, nnchorless and drift
ing ever with the tide further from
the harbors OF law ana order. Momen-
tous and history-mnking policies wcre
expected OF the eN-Prcsidcnt ycster-
day, but the same old onc-sylabled
platitudcs came in their stead, and the
oft-told obvious wns oft repeated. Tho
dishonest man who is honest when hs
Is not dishonest and tho Honest man
est were resurrected. Mr.. Roosevelt
seems to think that "nny man engaged
N big business who honestly endcav-
ors to do what Is right and proper"
nlLBt have square deal, regardless OF
tho consequences OF his wronsdoing
II his intent be honest Is righteous
ness OF intent 10 pallatc unrighteous-
ness of act7
Thinking people observe that Mr..
Roosevelt's appeal is merely to the
moral law. That is the source of his
hold upon tho people. Tho idea which
be SO muddy expresses with reference
TO honesty and tho square deal is one
with which wo are In full accord.
plautudcs are all wolf and good II
they be applied constructvcly and by
one whose practice squares with his
preachmeut as President Mr.. Roosevelt
Numbered his veritics from every plat
form. but he violated the very code which
he enuncIated-in the acquiring OF the
Panama Canal. IN the Tennessee Coal
and Iron case, In dcnouncing Hartman
one day and borrowing 100000 from
him the next. Is it right that him
that makes shoes so barefoot him
self"
Most extraordinary In MIR. Roosc-
velt's speech was his position with re-
gard to the recall OF judges, Despite
his deliverance yesterday, 1t is to he
doubted whether he really knows what
ne thinks about the recall. When he
spoke in Arizona he was violently op-
posed Ia tho recall; in Los Angeles he
WAS strongly for it; In san Francisco
he did not know what he thought
about it, In Columbus he favored H.;
but what of tomorrow? We do not
know what Mr.. Roosevelt, means by
the right to recall judicial decisions,
nor in our opinion, docs he. Is 1t that
he wonld substitute for a stable and
orderly process a disordcrly ana willy
'iilly method OF revising and repeating
Judicial decisions? The people al
ready possess in large measure the
very power which he would foist upon
them by this queer ana incxplicablc
doctrine BY ~ Enrichment of laws
through their representatives. chosen
IN an orderly manner and acting IN un
orderly manner the people have in
countless Instances reversed iudicial
ldecisions. At this hour the people or
the nation, through their legislative
representatives. ere writing the income
tax into law, although the Supreme
Court OF the United states mas dc
clared Il unlawful and DEMONSTRATIONS
al. In many States the same POLICY
has been and IL being pursued state
Legislatures arc making lawful what
the courts have often declared an i'm
pairment OF the free right OF contract
which women and children work The
same Is true OF the fellow servant rule.
which by legislative act has been nul
lihcd In State otter state.
what rcc!ss Mt. Roosevelt of tn,
future? The tenure Of Judge ana the
life OF the people pncctcd by Ms de-
gcsion is imnnitcs!mal when subjected
20 the litmus test OF time i, should
be remembered that Judge does no,
represent the people, but principle
In the life of q nation the development
OF mankind and the stability Of priu.
ciples are worth Infinitely more thaf
Bwiftness IN change. The fundarne,lta
desideratum Is the right ~ the pcopl,
TO make honest laws There are cor
irupt judges. there are men on III,
bench who are not in sympathy wiz
the people, but the overwhelming ma
jority OF the judiciary arc faithfuI I,
their solemn trust The republic mus
have q government Of law, NOT Il gov
!ernment OF mere majoritics. nrst Of
this eide OF the scale and then on til
tother. Mast justice be recalled ana III
popular within OF tho moment on
throned? The fundamental error int
which Mr. Roosevelt falls is in think
ing That law is the moro expressio
OF popular desire, when, for The. preser
walton OF society Itself, i, must be
fxed system Of rules Of conduct base
on right, reason ana the immemorla
experience OF enlightened peoples, La,
I u ~,