Abilene weekly reflector., 1912-08-08
ROOSEVELT GIVES
PLAN OF BATTLE
Address Of the Colonel Before the
Progressive Convention.
PRINCIPLES OF NEW PARTY
Leader Discusses Courts and the Peo'
pie, Control Of Trusts, Cost OF
Living, Tariff and Other
Great issues.

velt today addressed the convention
Of the National Progressive party
sounding the keynote for his followers
and laying down the plan Of battle 70
be waged by the new party. He ais
cussed the principles Of that party
under these twelve subdivisions: Inc
Helplessness of the Old Parties; the
Right Of the People to Rule; Tne
Courts and the People; Constructive
Control of the Trusts; Rights OF the
Wage-Worker; The Farmer; The Tar
In; The High Cost Of Living; Cur
rency; Conservation: Alaska and IN
transitional Affairs.
"The two old parties" he said. are
husks, with no real soul within eitner'
divided on artificial lines. boss-ridden
and privilege controlled. each jum'
BILE of incongruous elements, and neitn'
er daring to speak out wisely and rear
lessly what should be said on the vitai
issues Of the day" AS opposed 10
this incongruity and insincerity OF
action he asserted that the National
Progressive platform will be "a con-
tract with. the people," with dennite
and concrete provision to be carried
out II the people ratify the CONTRACT
on election day as exactly and honest
lv "as II II were actually enforceable
under the law"
Old Parties inadequate.
Following is summary OF the COLO
nel's speech:
Neither the Republican nor the Dem
ocrat!c platforms or managers snow
any adequate recognition OF the mignty
fact ''that we are now in the midst OF
a great economic evolution" This lr'
resistible movement for economic
change and Improvement must De
guided by both common sense ana
the highest ethical standards In or
der to prevent reasonable evolution
from becoming dangerous revolution.
-he Democratic party, as is indicated
by its present record in congress-
lacks the common sense, and the re
publican party, by its record OF stolen
delegates at the Chicago convention
lacks the ethical standards.
II this country is really to go for
ward along path of social and eco
nomic Justice, there must be new
party of nationwide and non-sectiona
principles, party where the tituial
national chiefs and the real state lead
ers shall be in genuine accord. party
in whose counsels the people shall DC
supreme, a party that shall represent
in the nation and the several states
alike the same cause, the cause OF hu
man rights and of governmental en-
cheney The reassertions OF the states
rights doctrine of the Democratic
party cripples and forecloses any real
or genuine relief to the people. 1t re
duces their promises to hopeless anc
empty phrases. The mission and spirit
of the Progressive movement VII
thrill the Republic from end to end.
Right Of the People TO Rule.
"The actions of the Chicago conven
ton, and to an only less degree OF the
Baltimore convention, have shown II
striking fashion how little the people
do rule under our present conditions.
In order to assure this popular rult
Mr. Roosevelt urged the adoption o
presidential primaries, popular cleo
ton of senators, the short ballot, EN-
cient corrupt practices act, qualified
use of the initiative, referendum, ant
recall. The recall should be applied
to administrative officers. Mr.. Roose
welt asserted that the adoption o
these new methods of political admin
istration is not antagonistic to repre-
sentative government. "All l desir'
to do by securing more direct contro
of the governmental agents and rep
resentatives of the people is to CIV
the people the chance to make thei
representative really represent then
whenever the government become
misrepreeentative instead Of represen
tatiye. have not come to this wa.
OF thinking from closet study or as
mere matter of theory. / have beeI
forced to II by q long experience witt
the actual conditions Of our politica
life."
The Courts and the People.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt
strongly emphasized the necessity o
the sovereign people preserving
check on every branch Of public SerV
ice. He, reiterates his now well-knowl
views regarding the courts. "Th
american people, and not the courts
ar. IN detarmine their own fundamer
tai policies" This does not mean tha
the people are TO interfere In case
which involve merely questions Of tui
ice between individuals except tina
"means should be devised for maxim
II easier than ct present TO get rid Q
an incompetent Judge" But when
judicial decisiOn involves an interpr'
tation Of what the people mean BY tn
constitutions which they have frame
ana laws passed By the people Ar
| nuIKaed becAuss the courts say thos
laws are contrary to the peoples WI