Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-13
ROOSEVELT FLAYS
THE COMMITTEE
Discusses Naked Issue Of Right
and Wrong in Magazine.
Article.

New York. June il.--Theodore Roose-
welt discusses present conditions at Chi
ca go in an article entitled "A Naked Issue
Of Right and Wrong in tho current issue
of the Outlook. Mr.. Roosevelt says in
part:
"The contest for the republican nominal
ton has now narrowed down to a naked
issue Of right and wrong. for tho issue is
simply whether or not We shall permit a
system of naked fraud and naked theft
from the people to triumph.
Il have made this contest on two great
principles: First. tho right of the people
to rule, and therefore In the exercise Of
| their deliberate Judgment TO control their
government and their governmental
agents and, second, their duty so to rule
as to bring about not only political but
social and industrial justice. | have en-
deavored everywhere to appeal not to the
politicians. but to the people themselves.
and to get their judgment. stating scores
OF times that I would do my best to con-
vert them to my way of thinking, that
should acquiesce as matter of course IN
their Judgment If II was adverse. but that
II their Judgment was favorable I did not
intend tamelv to submit to an effort by
the politicians. that is. by the bosses act
Ing as the representatives of special priv
ileges. to throw aside the verdict OF the
people and substitute a fake verdict OF
their own. This is precisely what Mr.
Barnes. Mr. Mckinley. and their asso-
ciates and representatives on the national
| committee at Chicago are now attempt
| ing; but am not prepared to believe they
have the support Of majority OF the
committee. 80
| ANALYzEs NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Roosevelt renews his statement that
national committeeman were chosen foui
years age, certain of them representing
! bosses and special privileges in theil
most odious forms =
| Moreover, OF the 80 members OF the
national committee which followed thu
lead of the Taft manager In the vote
on publicity at the first meeting In chi
caSo. Is have been defeated and repudiatet
In their states, four Of them represen
territories. insular possessions, havinl
no vote and 10 are from southern States
that have given no electoral vote for tn,
Republican party. These %. constituting
two more than majority of the com
mittee, Will be without political standin'
after this Week and have no popular vot
behind them
| Yet In recent speech in New Jerse'
Mr.. Taft stated that he believed he woul,
he nominated because he believed tina
the national committee would supper
him. Apparently Mr. Taft was not awar
Of the fun significance of his words 80
The real meaning of such "A statemen
is that an appeal from the people lie
10 this body OF 80 men chosen not by tn
people but by the politicians four year
lago."
After discussing the primary results b.
States. Mr. Roosevelt SAYS: II fail my
self to see how an honorable man ca
profit by or take part In such piece q
trckery as this Ohio State convention
victory In the same way 7 fail to Sc
how an honorable man can profit by o
connive at or approve of the farcical Ney
York county primaries. But tn
case was far worse in Washington, 4
Indiana. in Michigan.
REPRESENT BRAZEN FRAUD.
I'm many Of these cases tho Taft dele
gates represent absolutely nothing bu
fraud as vulgar, as brazen. and as cyni
cally open as any ever committed by tn
Tweed regime. No honorable man ca
profit by or connive at these frauds an
escape having his honor furnished. Thi
applies not merely to the participants an
would-be beneficiaries. big and little G
the Chicago conventio... 1t applies also
|, every man who has hitherto supporte
Mr. Taft, and especially to every colies
president. to every man who pretsnds
preach high Ideals. to every man vii
asserts that be stands for dsesncy In pol
taA"