Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1912-05-10

pie? A very striking example of the
tyranny IT the minority
MY learned friend apparently for.
gets the cardinal principle in the
American government, that the repre-
sentatives Of the people and those
holding public positions Of trust and
honor are the servants OF the people
and are chosen or appointed expressly
to carry into effect the will OF the
electorate.
In the second paper your writer
/ states that the moderates stand for
/ the preservation OF the American sys-
icals stand for such changes in method
and principle as would plunge the gov
einment into chaos. Also, that the
number of cases in which courts have
upheld acts OF congress and state leg
islatures is 90 times greater than
those in which they have declared
such acts to be unconstitutional. anG
finally the article closes with this rash
and unfair statement, which | cannot
allow to stand unchallenged:
Are you prepared to admit that it
is your purpose to overthrow Ameri-
can representative government? Mr..
Taft says no. Mr. Roosevelt says yes.
Which shall it be-?
If. it is fact that the courts sus-
tain the Representatives OF the people
in the ratio OF 20 cases to one, how
can any intelligent man reason that
the government is to be thrown into
chaos b. the use OF the restricted re-
call in such limited number OF
cases? For it is not reasonable to
suppose that every time a court de-
clares an act OF the legislature to be
unconstitutional every such case will
he important and vital enough to war
rant the use Of the recall The writer
should give. the subject a little more
grave and intelligent reflection.
Let us now examine carefully and
justly, in the true American spirit. the
so-called attitude that Mr.. Roosevelt
has taken to overthrow American rep
rcsentative government. Does my
friend know the principles Mr.. Roose-
welt advocates? 1t might be we'll tc
cite the most important and the mos.
radical The short ballot, direct nom
nations, direct election OF United
States senator's, the initiative and ref
ecendum and the very restricted re-
cell In his speech in New York on
March 90 MIR. Roosevelt says:
so that no man may misunder-
stand me, let me recapitulate: | am
not proposing anything in connection
with the Supreme court OF the United
States or with the federal constitu-
ton. l am not proposing anything
having any connection with ordinary
suits. civil or criminal, as between in
Gividuals. | am not speaking OF the
recall of judges. | am proposing mere
ly that in a certain class OF cases in /
volving the police power, when state
court has set aside as unconstitutional |
8 law passed by the legislature for the |
general welfare, the question OF the
validity OF the law be submitted for |
final determination to vote OF the
people, taken after due time for con-
If there any principle advocated
here which will plunge the govern
.nent into chaos?' The Supreme court
and the federal constitution are pre-
so our national government
remains intact. Does the use OF the
short ballot, which but fixes respon-
sibility more definitely on the repre-
sentatives OF the people, destroy rep
government? Would the
to the federal constitution
necessary for the direct election OF
United States senators destroy repre-
sentative government?
when we come to consider direct
lomi sations and the necessary changes
o the state constitution this much
needed reform would work havoc with
he indirect representative govern
nebt we have today. The kind OF
U. we have at present, boss-ruled
and machine-controlled
absolutely ignores the right
# the people to choose the best can
iidates II this is the kind OF repre- !
government. which is now
,eing so strenuously upheld by profess
ional politicians, that your writer
ears for, it were better, indeed, that
t should be swept away and true,
.onest system of direct representative
government put in its place.
Mr.. Vessels says in conclusion:
THE constitution will be safely
,uarded, never fear, by Mr.. Roosevelt
nd those who believe in his princi-
lies, and as for his new radicalism,
t is the forceful expression Of the be-
ief Of the people, those who are the
ackbone of the nation, who maintain
he balance of the country. fail to
ee where these principles endanger +
representative government, for we
aust trust the people; they have guild
d our country in the past and are
apab,e OF doing so in the future. Mr..
,oosevelt's influence for good is far
eaching and powerful, for he is bring
ag before the young men OF today II
uestions which are vital to the well Il
are of the nation tomorrow, and these
Dung men who will soon take up the II
ems OF government and business are Il
living careful consideration to this
ew radicalism, and when the time is
ipe the dark stains OF corruption, Il
raud and abuse of money power, Il
,hich are a disgrace to our political u
ystem will be swept away, and our
eople will have to a fuller degree n
he opportunities for the pursuit OF u
fe. liberty and happiness"