The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-04
TAFT DISPUTED
 BY ROOSEVELT The Colonel Defines Taft's
 "Progressiveism" PARTY FACES A CRISIS Strenuous Theodore Says Republicans d Must Choose Between Being Party of Plain People and
 Party of Privilege

MT. Taft in some of his acts had shown himself to be reactionary. In support of this contention Colonel Roosevelt went over the record of the present admlnistra- tion in certain particulars and criticised 1t sharply.
 l The colonels speech came at the end of the first day of his week of campaign ing through West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Pennsylvania He broke his record for speeches for the present cam- paign, delivering Is today. All but two were given at railway stations from his car. Everywhere he found large crowds and cordial reception. Tn his recent speech at Philadelphia, Colonel Roose- welt said, President Taft stated that he was progressive, and this raises the question as to what a progressive is." The colonel gave his definition of pro- gressive, on the basis of which he under 1 took an analysis of the attitude of the | administration toward a number of ques- | tions.
 | said, ''Mr Taft was supported by the pro- gressive and opposed by representatives of special privilege
 Speaking of the courts, the colonel as- serted that when the President supported 'tkose courts which declare that the peo- pie have no power to do social justice" that he shows himself a reactionary."
 Seven Speeches In West Virginia Colonel Roosevelt deliv- cred seven speeches. Crossing the line into Kentucky his first stop was at Asn- land, where his car was switched from the regular train to a special for the run into Louisville. Here he spoke in build ing made of pine boards and tar paper, in which revival meetings are being held. On the way to Louisville he made six short speeches.
 At Lexington the crowd was so great that it was almost impossible for Col onel Roosevelt to make speech. Ha was unable to make himself heard from the platform of his car and attempted to go to the steps of the station. He was caught in the jam and had a hard struggle before he was finally able to extricate himself
 Leaving Louisville late tonight, Col onel Roosevelt Is due at Cincinnati ar 7:25 a. m., tomorrow. He will remain there for only a few minutes The col
 
 upon the itinerary for the remainder of the trip; the extension of the journey into Illinois and Pennsylvania having been decided upon so hastily that it was impossible to map out the detailed programme in advance.
 Every man. who. lights fearlessly q nd effectively against special privilege in any form is to that extent a progress sive. Every man who, directly or in directly, upholds privilege and favors the special interests, whether he acts from evil motives or merely because he is puzzle-headed or dull of mental vision or lacking in social sympathy, or whether he simply lacks interest in the subject, Is a reactionary," declared MT. Roosevelt in speech which he devoted largely to defining progress siveness" as he applies the word to American politics of today.
 Discusses Taft
 "In his recent speech at Philadel- phia," began Colonel Roosevelt, Pres ident Taft stated that he was a pro- gressive and this raised the question as to what a progressive IS. More is in volved than any mans say so as to himself wellmeaning man may vaguely think of himself as a pro- gressive. Vision and intensity of con viction must both go to the makeup of any man who is to lead the forward movement and mildly good intentions are wholly useless as substitutes
 "The essential difference, as old az civilized history is between the men who, with fervor and broad sympathy and imagination, stand for the forward movement, the men who have faith in the people, on the one hand, and, on the other the men of narrow vision and small sympathy wno are not stirred by the wrongs of others, and with these f,9af -fu utaJ .afb I,, ,Jf trust the people but wish to keep them helpless so as to exploit them for their own benefits.
 Merely to announce ones belief in the rule of the people, while openly or covertly trying to prevent such rule from being effective would be demagogy of peculiarly mean type. Our professions must be judged by the way they square with our actions. The doctrine of the rule of the people amounts to sheer nothingness if we arc forbidden to apply 1t, when the failure to do so means the failure to get and to do justice"
 Referring to the method he has advo- cated of letting the people of state decide upon the constitutionality of cer- tain acts of their courts, Colonel Roose- welt declared:
 ITO denounce such proposition as put ting the axe to the tree of freedom NltHOul pIopOsIlS any more workable or better remedy, is to champion the cause of the special interests in whose favor as against the people and against the cause of justice, the courts have de- cided
 Is ReactiOnary
 When the President supports those courts which declare that the people have no power to do social justice and when he opposes the effort to give to the sober judgment of the people due effect as against the decisions of reactionary court, then he shows himself a reac- tionary. When the President characterizes, a moderate proposal to render effective the sober judgment of the American peo- pie as against indefensible and reaction ary court decisions in favor of the privi- legged classes as laying the axe at the foot of the tree of well ordered free dom,' then the President is simply stand Ing against the sane and moderate move ment for social justice and in favor of privilege, and he ranks himself against the progressives. against the cause of justice for the helpless and the wronged. and on the side of the reactionaries, on the side of the beneficiaries of privi- lege and injustice.
 Four years ago the progressives sup ported Mir. Taft for President. and he was opposed by such representatives of special privilege as MT. Penrose of Penn