Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-08-14
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.


cussed the principles of that party
under these twelve subdivisions: The
Helplessness Of the Old Parties; The
Right of the People to Rule; The
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
| ternational Affairs.
The two old parties" he said, ARE
husks, with no real soul within either,
divided on artificial lines, boss-ridden
and privilege controlled, each a jum-
Die OF incongruous elements, and Meth
er daring to speak out wisely and fear
iessly what should be said on the vital
Issues of the day" AS opposed to
this incongruity and insincerity of
| action he asserted that the National
Progressive platform will be "a con-
tract with the people," with definite
and concrete provision to be carried
out If the people ratify the contract
| on election day as exactly and honest
ly "as if it were actually enforceable
under the law"
Ole Parties inadequate.
| Following is a summary of the colo
| nePs speech:
Neither the Republican nor the Dem
ocratic platforms or managers show
any adequate recognition of the mighty
fact that we are now in the midst of
a great economic evolution" This ir-
resistible movement for economic
| change and improvement must be
| guided by both common sense and
| the highest ethical Standards in or
! der to prevent reasonable evolution
from becoming dangerous revolution.
| The Democratic party, as is indicated
by its present record in congress,
lacks the common sense, and the Re
publican party, by it's record of stolen
delegates at the Chicago convention,
| lacks the ethical standards.
If this country is really to go for
ward along path of social and eco
nomic justice, there must be new
party of nationwide and nou-sectional
principles, party where the titular
| national chiefs and the real state lead
ers shall be in genuine accord, party
in whose counsels the people shall be
supreme, a party that shall represent
In the nation and the several states
alike the same cause, the cause Of hui
man rights and of governmental eff
cheney. The reassertion 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 and
empty phrases. The mission and spirit
Of the Progressive movement will
thrill the Republic from end to end.
Right of the People to Rule.
1.-THE actions of the Chicago conven-
ton. and to an only less degree of the
Baltimore convention, have shown in
striking fashion how little the people
do rule under our present conditions"
| In order to assure this popular rule
Mr.. Roosevelt urged the adoption of
presidential primaries, popular cleo
ton of senators. the short ballot, eff
cient corrupt practices act, qualified
use of the initiative, referendum, and
recall. The recall should be applied
To administrative officers. Mr.. Roose-
Welt asserted that the adoption OF
these new methods Of political admin
istration is not antagonistic to repre-
sentative government. "All l desire
to do by securing more direct control
of the governmental agents and rep
resentatives Of the people is to give
the people the chance to make their
representatives really represent them
! whenever the government becomes
nisrepresentative instead of represen-
tative. l have not come to this way
| NJ thinking from closet study or as a
mere matter of theory. | have been
forced to it by long experience with
the actual conditions of our political
! life"
The Courts and the People.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt
! strongly emphasized the necessity of
the sovereign people preserving a
check on every branch Of public serv-
ice He reiterates his now well-known
views regarding the courts. "The
American people, and not the courts,
ara to determine their own fundamen-
tai polcies." This does not mean that
the people are to interfere in cases
which involve merely questions Of JUS
ttce between individuals except that
means should be devised for making
Il easier than at present to get rid of
an incompetent Judge" But when a
judicial decision involves an interpre-
tation of what the people mean by the
constitutions which they have framed
and laws passed by the people are
nullified because the courts say those
laws are contrary to the peoples will
as expressed in their constitution.
there must be reference to the peo
ME of the public effect of such decis-
ions under forms securing full delib-
Grafton" to the end that the people
NAV reotify this alleged defect in their
constitution by a popular vote having