The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-02-24
ROOSEvtLT'S OHIO TALK
HIS BEST, SAYS BRYAN
Nebraskan Finds Himself in Ac-
cord With Most of What the
Colonel Advocates.
REALLY QUITE PROGRESSIVE
Pleased to See Weight Of Ex-Presi-
dents Influence Thrown on the
Side Of Advanced Ideas.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Col, Feb 23.-
Roosevelt delivered the strongest speech
he ever made at the Ohio constitutional
convention on Wednesday and am not
surprised that II put the standpatters into
a panic. I do not agree with all Of his
arguments. but his address was very pro-
gressive along most Of the lines he dis
cissed.
in my opinion the progressive element
will win out at the Democratic national
convention. with Harmon polling the
lowest vote and Underwood a close
second. I do not care to predict the
outcome between the Republican pro-
gressives and the standpatters.
The Roosevelt third term objection
will prove q greater handicap than his
friends seem to believe"
Tho foregoing are some Of the state
ments made by W. J. Bryan on the politi-
cal situation in an interview with TIE
Sun correspondent to-day. He was un-
stinted in his praise OF Roosevelt's ad-
drSss in Ohio last Wednesday. although
he declared his opposition to come Of the
views advanced by the former President.
Bryan did not care to venture an opinion
@S w WAA0e AsoooCNCit IhCoAN WHch IC
said "My hat il in the ring" He de-
clared that he does not know even that
Roosevelt actually made the statement
attributed to him.
Asked to say on what points he defers
with Roosevelt's Ohio speech Mr.. Bryan
said.
Il have not time in an offhand interview
to take up in detail and debate Mr.. Roose-
velt's speech. One Of the weakest Of his
weak points however. is his discussion
OF the trust question. dissent from him
entirely on the subject Of the regulation
Of a monopoly. A monopoly can't sue
cessfully be regulated. 1t must be pre-
vented. The prevention Of monopoly
does not mean the prevention Of large
business enterprises. II simply means
the drawing Of the line beyond which the
control Of production shall not 60.
Mr.. Roosevelt had seven and one-half
years in which to test the ability OF the
Government to control monopolies and
the result was that We had more monopo-
lies at the close Of his administration than
at the beginning. and one OF them. the
Steel Trust. used panic to force him TO
consent to the swallowing OF It's largest
rival.
Another weak point is Roosevelt's q
seeming advocacy OF the appointment
Of judges for life with recall by the Legis-
lature. I prefer the election Of judges
and favor the recall by the people a. we'll
as by the Legislature. The same objec-
ton that Mr.. Roosevelt makes to Civ ing
the Legislature the exclusive right to
legislate applies to the proposition to give
the Legislature the exclusive right to re-
call judges. in other words. the recall Of
judges by the peopla is defended by the
same ar gument that supports the initiative
and referendum.
But while mention these objectionS-
and there are some others-I am very
glad indeed that Mr. Roosevelt has thrown
his great influence on the side OF popular
election OF the Senator and in favor of
the initiative and referendum. While hiS
advocacy OF the recall Of Judges is con-
siderably qualified, l am glad that he goes
as far as he does and ! am especially
pleased to see him attack the doctrine
that Judges shall be entrusted with the
final decision Of political questions.
Mr. Roosevelt's speech is important
not only for the support it gives to pro-
gressive ideas but because it accentuates
the division OF the Republican party and
proves that the Republican party is going
through are generation quite similar to the
Valley OF the Shadow OF Death through
which the Democratic party passed in
1893 and to which it has at times shown
an inclination to return"