New-York tribune., 1912-03-31
LOR|MER AND RATE BILL
LASHED BY ROOSEVELT
Colonel, in Detroit Speech, Sharp
" Defines Issue Between Him
self and Administration,
LARGE CROWD GREETS HIM
Railroad Measure "Mischievous
and Improper Seating of
Illinois Senator Con
demned.

demned.
Detroit. March 3o-The issue between
Theodore Roosevelt and the present national
administration was emphasized by speech
which the former President delivered here
tonight The railroad rate bill passed by
the present Congress and the Lorimer case
furnished the themes for his speech. With
hts visit 10 Detroit which he reached after
an all day ride from the West Colonel
Roosevelts campaign tour Of the Central
states virtually came to an end. as he eX-
poets 20 make no stop on the return trip
to New York.
Colonel Roosevelt said that the railroad
rate bill. as submitted 70 Congress by the
administration. was "a thoroughly mis-
chievous and improper measure The Pro-
sressive Senators, he said. reconstructed
the bill against the violent opposition OF
the reactionaries who supported the ad-
rninistration." retaining as the one essen
tisl feature of the original bill the pro-
vision for a commerce court. This court
he said. has worked badly.
Passing 10 the Lorimer case. colonel
Roosevelt declared that the vote Of the
Senate committee this week recommending
that the Illinois Senator he allowed TO re-
tain his seat illustrated the working IN
actual practice Of the Presidents theory OF
government Of the people by what he calls
a representative part Of the people
The Roosevelt meeting here tonight was
held in the Light Guard Armory, which
was crowded On the trip from chicago
this afternoon Colonel Roosevelt made
number Of speeches from the train. The
crowds which gathered a the railway STA
tions al he passed through Michigan. nota-
bly al Kalamazoo, Dowagiac and l>aWton'
we're the largest which have assembled 10
hear rho ccloneIs two-ninute talks from
the rear Platform during his present trip.
In these speeches he discussed the Presi-
dental primary. and praised Governor OS-
born for his work for such d measure
Bitter at osborn's Enemies.
The Governor has represented the peo-
ple" he said. while those who have STOOD
against the direct Presidential primary have
misrepres sented them" The opponents oil
an adequate primary system he character
ized as the "meanest" Michigan legislators.
At Ann Arbor the students AT the UNI
versity Of Michigan were on hand and gave
an uproarious greeting TO the colonel Mr..
Roosevelt also spoke from his car in Mil
waukee
Colonel Roosevelt went from the mass
meeting to the train for the trip 10 New
York He expects 10 reach home late TO-
morrow for short rest. before starring on
lls Southern tour next week
In his speech to-n,gh; Colonel Roosevelt
said
The one great biz Of progressive legisla.
ton in The last Congress was the railroad
late bill AS submitted for action by the
n = tlOTOQghlN
,hievou, and improper measure, WniCn
would have meant the undo!ng Of most OF
the work that had been doae in the last
twenty years. tor II legalized monopoly
without furnishing any additional safe
guards in the way Of control Ths vas
doing the exact reverse Of what the Pro-
.ressives have always stood for for We
ave insisted upon the most thOrOUshgoing
and faircaching ContrCl Of monopoly where
a- d practical matter Is proves unvise or
impossible 20 break II up.
iue administration plan was championed
%. Senator Aidrtch and put through the
committee UNCHANGED II was reconstructed
lpon the floor of the Senate by the pro
-Tcsei1e Senator'S against the violent Oppo-
-i'ion of the reactionaries who championed
the administration But one of. the essen
ra features of the original administration
h.Il was !ett This was the provision for .
commerce court. As matter OF fact this
ls the only provision of the hill that IN
practice has worked badly. II has tended
~ erect 10 large degree TO nullfy the
expert decisions Of the interstate commerce
that respect Mut the rest Of the bin, for
which The progressive Senators alone are
entitled no the credit, has represented real
End great improvement
wish 70 cali your attention 10 the last
Instance Of the working IN actual practice
Of the President theorv Of government ot
The people hy what h calls Representa-
tive part OF the people Remember that
thrahsm Lincoln statement was that "e
uealed a government ~ the people, toI
rnr people b" the people ana that the
proposed Improvement is ~ have i gov
,rrrren' bv z Representative part Of the
Ieople In practice. IS J have already SAID,
this has always meant government by a
thoroyzhlv unreQreSents tive part of the
reorle against the interest of the whole
PEOPLE - means and can only mean govern
r7ent Of The people for the spactal interest,
by the bosses
Repads Lormer Action,
Ihe immediate illustration Of this tac; 3
done N the Lorinner case The rescrionerv
m4rrbers Of both parueS. or the committee,
have stood by Mr. Lcr!nler and against the
that he be allowed 20 continue in his place
10 You think that the representatives. WHo
lave acted IN this way really represent the
Isorleo ] don't Do you think that th's
pessirnz1 Of government Of the people by 2
rzpresentstive part of the people. 50 Calico
'hs' S. really By nlsrepresehlat!Ne "a. . .
~ tra reools-repres snts an imoroyeuent
on government bv the people DOR : or
instance one q the genuemen VINO slgneo
-hl report or behalf cf NJ. LorG?e! "SS
cGrator Dillinehar1 OF Vermont ] 60 Hot
for me moment believe that y the people
Tf Esrunonr could vote on this 'sSNe tney
poy,4 ycte 70 retain Mr. Lormer IN ire
Stna'e " seems 70 me that TINS LcrlIhSSI
vsee 50 far from being an argument ~
fa,or of the Presidents position tnat "e
should have government of the people BY
nav 81 me people IS strong argument
ior more direct government by me people-
, strong argument for the direct electon
= United states Senator'S by the psopiN
Ta have also heard sooo oeal OF 'sls 's
r1centlv - our opponents. headed, an
ecrrv 20 say. b. the President hlmstl
against uhat they have called the impul.
sir. iudgmert OF the people Now, ot
coyrse as matter of fact, in nothlng thst
We have proposed have ne asked for I'm,
r,jlstve Judgment In the proPoSal maj,
have made for giving 10 the pNoFle tne
riehf b~ a reasonably quick r1e'n"H OF C con
ssrurriC~ or amendment Of the tonsttu-
-ton "a say what they meant "hen lhyN
wade th. ConstltUtiGn. l have eHPreSsS
STIMULATE! for A. least two years tin1e ne
re the fral vote Is taken. ana y tnat is
not .-Nicient 10 turn impulse INTO soher
iUdr,uent. then 'he people are "h"ilN uh''
IN govern themselves ~ any time. q,
pGt IN any event I would gfea' oe4i
,sther trust the impulsiNe judgment OF VIC
Il QUARTER GEaTUSY
pAforsthe Public over Eve million sam