Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-03-23


Taft as Opposed to the Majority,
Stands squarely on His Columbus
COS Address.
New York, March 21.-Last night In
Carnegie hall Colonel Roosevelt deliv.
sered a forceful campaign speech. 1t il
IN part as follows:
THE great fundamental issue now be-
fore the Republican party and before
our people can be stated briefly. 1t is.
Are che American people fit to govern
themselves, to rule themselves, to con
1rUl themselves? ] believe they are.
Ny opponents do not. | believe in the
right of the people to rule. | believe
SnatI the majority of the plain people of
the United States will. day In and day
out, make fewer mistakes in govern
fng themselves than any smaller class
on body of men, no matter what their
training, will make in trying to govern
them. ! believe. again, that the Amer
Rcan people are. as a whole. capable of
self control and of learning by their
mistakes.
granny OF Minorttles.
i have scant patience with this talk
of the tyranny of the majority. When
ever there is tyranny of the majority
j shall protest against 1t with all my
heart and soul. But we are today suf-
siering from the tyranny of minorities.
II is a small minority hat is grabbing
s,ar coal deposits, our water powers
md our harbor fronts. A small minor
~3G is fattening on the sale of adulter-
ated foods and drugs. 1t is a small
minority that lies behind monopolies
and trusts. vt is a small minority that
stands behind the present law of mas
Ter and servant, the sweatshops and
" whole calendar Of social and in
edusr1aj injustice. 1t is a small minor
aty that is today using our convention
system TO defeat the will of n majority
OF 1be people in the choice of delegates
10 the Chicago convention.
If the majority of the American peo-
pie were in fact tyrannous over the
minority, if democracy had no greater
self control than empire, then indeed
pe written words which our forefa-
Tiers put into the constitution could
stay that tyranny.
M sane man who has been familiar
with The government of this country
Tor the last twenty years will com
.S3fain that we have had too much of
ahe rule of the majority. The trouble
snas been a far different one-that, at
znany times and in many localities.
Ehere have held public office in the
fsst3tes and lin the nation men who
nave in fact served not the whole peo-
.aole, but some special class or special
Interest. Lam not thinking only of
tfhUse special interests which by gross
eer methods, by bribery and crime.
have stolen from the people. / am
shrinking as muchoof their respectable
SaIies and igureheads. who have ruled
sand ieS.s!sted and decided as If in
ss7me way the vested rights OF priv
1ege mad a first mortgage on the whole
limited States. while the rights of all the
sseople were merely an unsecured debt.
Am 1 overstating the case? Have our
political leaders always or generally
-scogpized their duty to the people as
anything more than u duty 10 disperse
The mob. see that the ashes are taken
away and distribute patronage? Have
our leaders always or generally work
I'd fer the benefit OF human beings. TO
9acsease the prosperity of all the PEG
Qle. u give to each some opportunity
al liviag decently and bringing up his
S-Abdren we'll? The questions need nc
ans1,e
New "Cheeks and Balances"
So@ there has sprung up a feeling
DO IN the hearts of the people, not Of
Sh~ .sssses and professional politicians,
nae 0f the beneficiaries of special privi-
Aez,>-a %pervading belief of thinking
u, "A that when the majority of the pco-
90 DO in fact as we'll as theory rule
S.8-G the servants of the people Will
cuMe more quickly to answer and obey
0oI the commands of the special inter
zsts, nut those of the whole people. To
reach toward TAT end the progressives
of The Republican party in certain
states have formulated certain propos-
ais for change in the form Of the state
government-certain new checks and
balances" which may check and bal
9nce the special interests and their al
&ies. That Is their purpose, Now turn
Sol a moment to their proposed meth
DDS.
FIRST there are the initiative and
referendum" which are so framed that
If the legislatures obey the command
OF same special interest and o~bstinately
refuse the will of the majority the ma.
sortty may step in and legislate direct.
~. No Inan would say that it was best
10 conduct all legislation by direct vote
8f the people-it would mean the loss
or elaboration, of patient consideration
but, on the other hand, no Il whose
menrai arteries have not long since
hardened can doubt that the proposed
changes are needed when the legiSla
lures refuse TO carry out the will Of
tile people. The proposal is a method
MM