The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-05
TAFT is PROG isSIVE
President Shows Where He
Stands on Big
Questions.
Declares In Chicago Speech That He
Stands for True Progression
on Big Issues.

on March 9 expressed the keynote of
President Taft's campaign for re-
nomination for the presidency, and in
his Toledo address he laid particular
stress upon his position in opposition
to the recall of judges. Being a dis.
tinguished jurist, his opinions upon
this important subject must command
wholesome respect and consideration
There never has been a president of
the United States who, by training
and experience, is better qualified to
Judge of the results of legislation af-
fecting the courts, whose function 1t
is to construe and interpret the laws
without fear or favor.
In his Toledo speech Mr.. Taft said:
IL do not hesitate to say that the
recall Of judicial opinions lays the
axe at the root of the tree of we'll
ordered freedom and subjects the
guarantee of life, liberty and property,
without remedy, to the fitful impulse
of a temporary majority of an elect
crate"
In his Chicago address the presi-
dent, discussing the recall of judges,
said. in reviewing the Arizona case:
Under these conditions the case
would be one in which the defeated
litigants would be called upon to pass
upon the qualifications of the Judge
whose decisions had defeated them,
II would be hard to think of machin-
cry better adapted to destroy the
courage Of convictions and independ.
ence Of decisions In such cases. The
whole structure of popular govern.
ment rests upon the independence of
the judiciary.
"The function of the court Is to
administer justice according to law
between the government and individ.
uals and between the controlling ma
jority of the electorate and the MI
nority. It is easily conceivable that,
in case giving rise to such a petit
ton for the recall of the Judge, the
majority of the voters would be.
aroused by some decision Of the
court against what they regard as
their interest,""
In describing the definition of PRO.
Sressiveness." the president said:
"The term progressive, therefore,
includes all Of those who have been
moved to efforts of reform by the ne.
cessity for legislative and govern
mental action to deprive corporate
capital and undue vested privilege OF
its political power, and to bring about
proper popular and governmental con-
troll and regulation Of the use, OF cap.
ital In legitimate avenues and for lie.
climate purposes
After reviewing several acts of the
administration which proved that It
has been inspired by real and true
progressivism," the president con-
tinued: There are many other things
done in this administration that
would come properly under the head
OF progressive measures and that
Justly entitle those who feel respon-
sible for 1t to claim that 1t has been
a progressive administration and that
IL it Is returned to power further
progressive measures may be ex.
pected."
Among other things the president
referred to the establishment OF the
postal savings banks as one OF the
creditable achievements of the ad.
ministration, also to the proposed en-
largement Of the postosice for the
introduction of the parcels post. In
closing he said:
"In other words, II the people give
to the republican party and the pres.
ent administration their mark of ap-
proval in the national election, the
march of progressive legislation will
continue and the progressive addi-
tons to our governmental structure,
which are to serve the purpose OF
making broader and wider and more
perfect the equality of opportunity,
will continue to rest upon the sub
structure of that constitution and
those restrictions which have secured
for nearly century and quarter to
the American people the infinite bless
ing of the widest liberty preserved
and regulated by law"