The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

Continued from Page One.l
Fertilization of the Panama canal
Free passage through the canal fol
coastwise traffic and imposition OF
equal toll for all ships of whatever
nation.
Navy to build up stea until re-
ductiOn of ornaments is maze pos
sibIe by international agreement.
Colonel Roosevelt denounced the
Republican and Democratic parties as
''husks, with no real soul in either,
and as boss ridden and privilege
controlled" He asserted that the chief
concern of the privileged interests
was to defeat the new party and that
they cared little whether they beat 1t
with Taft or Wilson, regarding the
difference between them as trivial.
L hope we shall vim" he said,
land 1 believe that if we can wake
the people to what the fight really
means, that we shall yin
Mr. Roosevelt's speech strikes
keynote in the new party. 1t lays
down the plan of battle to be Waged
by the National Progressive party. He
discusses those principles under twelve
subdivisions, namely, the helplessness
of the old parties; the right of the
people to rule; the courts and the peo-
pie; constructive control of the trusts;
rights of the wage worker; the farmer;
the tariff; the high est of living; cur
rency; conservation; Alaska and inter-
naJ1Cnal aHalGS. lie TWO O1O poI
ties he said, ARE husks, with no real
soul within either, divided on artificial
lines, boss ridden and privilege con-
tTolled each a tumble of incOngruouS
elements, and neither daring to speak
out wisely and fearlessly what should
be said on the vital issues of the day"
AS opposed to this incongruity and in
sincerity of action he asserted that the
National Progressive platform Will be
"a contract with the people" with
definite and concrete provisions to be
carried out if the people ratify the
contract on election day as exactly and
honestly ''aS if it were actually en-
forcible under the law
Neither the Republican nor the
Democratic platforms or managers
shJw any adequate recognition of the
mighty fact that we are now in the
midst of great economic evolution"
This irresistible movement for ecOnOm-
ic change and improvement must be
guided by both common sense and
the highest ethical standards" in order
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 Republican
party, by its record of stolen delegates
at the Chicago convention, lacks the
ethical standards. THE men who pre-
sided over the Chicago and Baltimore
conventions, and the great bosses who
controlled the two conventions-Mr.
Root and Mr.. Parker, Mr.. Barnes and
Mr.. Murphy, Mr.. Penrose and Mr..
Taggart, Mr.. Guggenheim and Mr..
from one another, of
course, on certain points. but these are
the differences which one corporation
lawyer has with another corporation
lawyer when acting for different cor
pOratlonS. They come together at once
as against common enemy when the |
dominion of both is threatened by the |
mr. fNfT he e
States. If this country is |
really to go forward along a path of |
social and economic justice, there must |
be new party of nation wide and |
principles, a party where !
he titular national chief and the real |
state leaders shall be in genuine ac-
cord, party in whose counseIs the |
people shall be supreme, a party that |
shall represent in the nation and the |
several states alike the same cause. the |
cause of human rights and govern |
mental efficiency" The reassertion of |
the states rights doctrine of the |
Democratic party crIppleS and fore |
closes any real or genuine relief to the |
people. 1t reduces their promises to |
hopeless and empty phrases. The mis-
sion and spirit of this progressive /
will thrill the republic from
end to end.
The Right of the People to Rule
The actions of the Chicago conyen-
ton, and to an only less degree of the /
Baltimore convention, have shown in
striking fashion how little the people
10 rule under our present conditions"
In order to assure this popular rule
Mr.. Roosevelt urged the adoption of
presidential primaries, popular election
Of senators, the short ballot an eff
cient corrupt practices act, qualified
use Of the initiative, referendum and
recall. The recall should be applied
10 administrative officers. Mr.. Roose-
7elt asserts that the adoption of these
new methods of political administra-
ion is not antagonistic to representa-
tive government "All I desire to do
by securing more direct control of the
governmental agents and representa-
ives of the people is to give the people
he chance to make their representa-
ives really represent them whenever
he government becomes misrepre-
sentative instead of representative. I
nave not come to this way of thinking
from closest study or as a mere mat |
ter of theory; 1 have been forced TO it
oy long experience with the actual
of our political life"
The Courts and the People.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt
strongly emphasizes the necessity of
ne sovereign people preserving a
eheck on every branch of public sar-
wee. Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt
his now well-known views
regarding the courts THE American
people, and not the courts, are to de-
.ermine their own fundamental pol
cles- This does not mean that tba
people are to interfere in cases which
nVoIve merely questions of justice be-
Ween individuals except that means
should be devised for making it easier
nan at present to get rid of an in
competent Judge" But when a Judi
eial decision involves an Interpretation