The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-04-18
ROOSEVELT GIVES
POLITICAL CREED
Plain Answers to Questions as to
His Principles.
JUST WHERE HE STANDS

JUSi WHEkE HI STANDS
II an Editorial In the March 30 Issue
Of The Outlook, Theodore Roose-
welt Sets Forth "A Short Political
Greed" In the Form Of Questions
and Answers, a. Follows:
A good friend Of mine who has been
asked many questions about the polit-
ica philosophy which endeavored to
Interpret and formulate in my Column
bus speech has put those questions in
the form Of q short catechism; and in
answering them have endeavored to
outline the philosophy.
What 10 the aim for which political
Pro9ressives are strivins7
The promotion of genuine popular
government in America, the defense Of
human rights. and the establishment
OF social and Industrial justice. 80 that
every force in the community may be
directed towards securing for the aver
age man and average woman higher
and better and fuller life in the things
OF the body no less than those of the
mind and soul.
Do you believe that the pursuit Of
this aim requires the adoption of new
and radical principles?
No. believe it requires new and
radical application Of the old princi-
pies of justice and common honesty.
which are as eternal as life itself.
New methods and new machinery are
needed for carrying these principles
into our national existence; and also
a broader sympathy. SO that our JUS
tice may be generous and human. and
not merely legalistic.
Do you believe In a short ballot?
I do. consider it one Of the most
important methods to be adopted. BY
the short ballot" I mean the prin-
ciple of electing few men to important
Offices and making more administra-
tive Offices appointive. This is the
method that is pursued in our Federal
government. The people have nothing
whatever to fear from giving any pub
lie servant power so long as they re-
tain their own power to hold him &C
countable to them. You will get best
service where you elect only a few
men, each Of whom has his definite
duties and responsibilities. and 10
obliged to work in the open SO that
the people know who he is and what
he does. -
Do you believe In direct primaries?
do. In the state the primary should
be of the simplest form consistent.
with, praHantlng fraud that will en-
able each Individual voter to act d.
rectly on the nomination OF elective,
officers; In the nation presidential phi.
maries should beaso framed that the
voters may chose their delegates to
the national conventions. and at the
same time express their preference for
nominees TOR the presidency. At the
present moment OUT political machines
IRE using their power to 'defraud the
people out OF their right to make t1orni-
stations uodgCoIdJ bIo%d9J6"
, atpo you jbelieve tn the! election Of
Untted Statssb senator's bvq the peo-
pie7 ,qa.1s : :
do, Il think the people are Just as
Competent elect United States sena-l
tors directly as they are to electsgovs
erneFs representatives in congress
or state legislatures. -,
.o0isyoa believe st6 the initiative Of
SefsSenduM7 OF 81 9T9a Gfnn'
ylfYes. under certain defnite limita.
rtions.i Action MY the initiative or ref-3
srendum ought mot TO be the normal
way Of legislation; r think the legis-
nature should be given! an entirely free
hands Butt beafeve the people should
have the power TO- reverse or supple
ment the work Of the legislature. when
sysf If becoines necessary. ,r
DO you bsiisvs III the rsealif ~
bslieve the peopie should he pro
nded with the means of recalling or
un-efectfns important elective admir-
istrative officers. to be used only when
there Is a widespread and genuine pub
lie feeling for sueh~a recall amongsa
majority poflthesvoters- I believe that
there dsi scant necessity for using It IN
connection with short-term elective Of
,acers.,, .dsis a.i3 SIS vita tT79Aa
. DO you beiieve In the recall r. Of
lud0esfsu5 - laldS3so ala DIST ~
I believe that the evils which have
led to the very widespread proposal
to apply the recall to judges are very
real. see no reason why the people,
If they are competent to elect judges.
are not also competent to un-elect
them I think the judiciary should be
made clearly to understand that they
represent Justice for the whole people.
Personally, and having in view the sue
cess of the Massachusetts system.
am at present inclined to believe that
judges should be appointive Then
we can apply the principle of the re-
call to the appointive power. In ad
dition. l would have the, appointivs
judges removable; and, in feeling Coz
way to the proper solution. would
try having this done by a majority
vote OF the two Houses OF the legisla-
'ture. as may now be done under the
Massachusetts, law, whenever the peo-
pie through their Representatives feel
that the needs OF the people require
such femStaE = But TITS II merely Thy
preferences; and. neseover. my prime
eoncernsis- With the end. not tho means.
iswish TO see good judges put. on the
.koSnk ooA - 4 ~, - 81 3rnrs 80 70 Anv