Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-22


threatens corporations which have not
been guilty of anti-social conduct, 1t
does harm. There should be fixed
governmental policy which shall
clearly define and punish wrong doing
and give in advance full information
to any man as to just what he can
and Just what he cannot legally and
properly do"
AS to the fitness of the American
people for government, Colonel
Roosevelt said:
Many eminent lawyers believe
that the American people are not fitted
for popular government, and that it ~
necessary to keep the judiciary irde-
pendent of the majority of the people,
take absolute issue with all those
who hold such position"
OF the recall of judges, he said:
THE question is one of expediency
merely. Each community has the
right to try the experiment for itself
In whatever shape 1t pleases. / do
not believe III adopting the recall save
as last resort, when it has become
clearly evident that no other course
will achieve the desired result"
Senator La Toilette was mentioned
but once, as follows:
FOllOWlDS StHdtoT Id fOlltttt, Il
number of practical workers and
thinkers in Wisconsin have turned
that state into an experimental lab
oratory of wise government action in
aid cf social and industrial justice,
They have initiated that kind of
progressive government, which means
not only the preservation of true
democracy. but the extension of the
principle of true democracy into in
dustrialism as well as into politics.
Colonel Roosevelt said, in part:
II hold it to be the duty of every
public servant, and of every man VINO,
in public or in private life. holds a
position of leadership ir thought or
action, endeavor honestly and fear
lessly to e. "a his fellow countrymen
to right decisiuas; but | emphaticaliy
dissent from the view that 1t is either
wise or necessary TO try to devise
methods which under the constitution
will automatically prevent the people
from deciding for themselves what
governmental action they deem just
and proper.
"It is impossible to invent constitu-
tional devices which will prevent the
popular will from being effective for
N1OHB Mllnout oi0p PltNtiitiH ~ - o'fa
being effective for right. The only
safe course to follow in this great
american democracy is to provide for
making the popular judgment really
effective. But ii is a false constitu-
tionalism. A false craftsmanship. to
endeavor by the exercise of a per-
verted ingenuity to seem to give the
people full power and at the same
time to trick them out of II.
yet this is precisely what is dons
in every case where the state permits
its representatives. whether on the
bench or In the legislature or in
executive office. to declare that 1t has
not the power to right grave social
wrcnrs, or that any of the officers
created by the people, and rightfully
the servants of the people. can set
themselves up to be the masters OF
the people. Constitution-maker
should make it clear beyond shadow
of doubt that the people, in their leg
islative capacity. have the power to
enact into law any measure they deem
necessary for the betterment of social
and industrial conditions.
Il h Id that he is the real progress
sive, that he is the genuine champion
of the people, who endcavors to shape
tho policy alike of tue nation ana ol
the several states so as to encourage
legitimate and honest business at the
same time that he wars against all
crookedness and injustice and unfair
ness and tyranny in the business
world. This is the reason why | have
for so many years insisted as regards
our national government, that ii is
both futile and mischevious to en-
deavor TO correct the evils of big
Lnc hNs att tn raGfnra hlIs1-
ness conditions as they were in the
middle of the last century before rail
ways and telegraphs had rendered
larger business organizations both in
ovitable and desirable.
THE effort to restore such condi-
tions, and to trust for justice solely
to such proposed restoration, is as
foolish as if we should attempt to
arm our troops with the fntlocks of
Washington's continentals instead OF
with modern weapons of precision.
Flintlock legislation, of the kind that
seeks to prohibit all combinations,
good or bad. Is bound to fail, and the
effort, insofar as ii accomplishes any
thing at all, merely means that some
of the worst combinations are not
checked, and that honest business Is
checked.
What is needed is first, the recog
milton that modern business condi-
tions have come to stay, insofar, at
least. as these conditions mean that
business must be dcne in larger units,
and then the cool-headed and resolute
determination to introduce an effect
i've method of regulating big corpora
tions so as to help legitimate business
as an incident To thoroughly and COM
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