New-York tribune., 1912-02-22
DEFINITE REPLY MONDAY
Promise to Cleveland Friend,
Who Told Him Whole Coun-
try Was Waiting to
Learn His Posi-
tion.
PROGRESSIVE IDEAS UPHELD
Recall of Judges as Last Resort
Favored in Address at Columbus
Ex-President Confers with
Many Leaders of Roose-
velt Movement in
Ohio.


Ohio.
Cleveland, Feb. 21.-
my hat is in the ring"
This is what Theodore Roosevelt said
here tonight when w. r. Eirick, CleVe.
land friend sought to learn whether he
was candidate for the Republican nom-
ination for the Presidency.
a want a direct answer, Colonel" said
Mr. Eiriek. "AII your friends want to
know, and want to know now, whether
you are to be candidate"
"My hat is in the ring" replied Colo
mel Roosevelt. "You will have my an
swer Monday"
Cleveland, Feb. 21.-Belief in the polti-
cal doctrines of the Progressives was
reiterated to-day by Theodore Roosevelt
who made four speeches in Ohio. 1t was
his first trip Of the kind since the series
of Journeys shortly after his return from
Africa in 1910
mixture of snow and rain fell
steadily until nearly nightfall, but Colo
nel Roosevelt was welcomed by crowds
wherever he went.
Colonel Roosevelt delivered his prin-
cipal address before the state constitu-
tional convention at Columbus, Big
Business" the fitness of the American
people for self government, the recall of
judges, and praise for the Progressive
legislation in Wisconsin instituted by
and furthered by Senator Robert NJ. La
Toilette when he was Governor, were
discussed by him. He chose as his sub
ject "A Charter of Democracy"
or what he termed Big Business" be
had this to say:
The antitrust law does good in so far as
Il can be invoked against combinations
which really are monopolies, or which re-
strict production or which artihcially raise
prices But in SO far as its workings are
uncertain or as it threatens corporations
which have not been guilty of anti-social
conduct, II does harm. There should ne a
fixed governmental policy, which shaii
clearly define and punish Wrongdolng ana
give in advance full information TO any
man as TO lust what he can and Just what
he can not legally and properly 40
AS TO the fitness Of the American people
for self-government, he said:
Many eminent lawyers believe that the
American people are not ttted Tor popular
government, and that 1t is necessary 70
keep the judiciary independent OF the ma ma
jority of the people" | take absolute issue
With all those who hold such a position,
OF the recall Of judges, he said:
The question is one of eXpediency merely
Each community has the right TO Try tnee
experiment for itself in whatever shape IL
pleases / DO not believe in adopting the
recall save as last resort. When II nda
become clearly evident that no other course
will achieve the desired result.
But there is one kind OF recall IN whlcn
very earnestly believe, and the immediate
adoption Of which ! urge. When q Judse
decides a constitutional question, when he
decides what the people as a whole can or
cannot do the people should have the rignt
10 recall that decision II they think u
wrong We should hold the judiciary In all
respect. but IT is both absurd and degrad-
ing t. MAKE a fetch Of a judge or Of any
one else ,
II the courts have the final say-so on all
legislative acts, and II no, appeal can ne
from them e the people then they are ir-
responsible masters Of the people. In other
words those who take this position hold
that the people have enough Intelligence TO
frame ard adopt a constitution. hut not
enough intelligence 10 apply and interpret
the constitution which they nave tleiH-
selves made.
In addressing the constitutional con
veation he several times turned aside
from his prepared speech long enough
for an epigrGm or two.
When he came to the subject Of con-
troll of corporations he said: big busi-
ness always shudders slightly when l
speak Of it,"
Confers with Many Politicians.
On the train between Columbus and
Cleveland late to-day Colonel Roosevelt
conferred al length with a number Of
politicians leading the Roosevelt move
merit In this state. Among them were
A /. Garford, Of Elyria, member of the
Roosevelt national committee; Nathaniel
c. Wright. Of Cleveland, chairman of the
Roosevelt rational publicity committee,
and Judge r. NJ. Wanamaker. of Akron.
James r. Garfield. Secretary of the In
terror in the Roosevelt Cabinet, and
Frank Krox, chairman of the Republican
State Central Committee of Michigan,
also talked with Colonel Roosevelt and
In Columbus he saw Walter Brown.
chairman OF the Ohio Republican State
Central Committee.
The train was more than an hour and
half late in arriving here, and a stop
CT only fifteen minutes was made, Colonel
Roosevelt then proceeding on his way to
New York
AS he boarded the train at Columbus
Colonel Roosevelt almost bumped into
Governor Harmon, who was coming back
home from trip into Kentucky. In
the handsiake which followed Colonel
Rooseyelt's ''delighted!" and jocular
remark by the Governor on the colonels
INVASION OF his state there was no re-
minder OF the antagonism between the
men in the 1910 campaign in Ohio, when
Colonel Roosevelt made a severe per-
sonal attack on the Governor.
Governor Wilson of New Jersey passed
through Columbus to-day, on his way tc
81 Louis. He saw neither Coione
Roosevelt nor Governor Harmon
tThe text OF Mr. Rooseyelts Co.
'4rnbus speech will be found on page a.