The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-10-11
MUST Save The
CONSTITUTION
Up to the Republican Party
to 10 II, Says Lodge
HEARTY CHEERS FOR TAFT

Policies Endorsed and Delegates to
Bay State Republican Convention
Warned Against Any change-Dem-
ocrats Unite In Declaring That Will
son and Foss Will Win
Boston, Oct. 7.-"Save the consti-
tuition" was the slogan of the Repub-
lican state convention which as
sembled in fremont Temple to select
presidential electors and ratify the
state ticket at the primaries.
The delegates represented both the
Progressive and stand-pat wings Of
Republicanism, and they cheered the
mention Of our wise and sagacious
leader" William Howard Taft, for
four minutes.
In a mastery speech, Senator
Lodge, as chairman of the conven-
ton, voiced the opposition of his
party to the doctrines of the initiative
and the referendum and the recall of
judicial decisions.
The argument against the initiative
and the referendum was that it is a
scheme to let organized majorities
rule. The proposal of the recall of
judicial decisions, he declared, was
an effort to turn the constitution into
a statute to be altered by the whim
or passion of the moment.
Senator Lodge urged the Republi-
cans to support President Taft as rep
resenting principles vital to the per-
petuity of free government. He called
for election of a Republican legislature
that the traditions of the state may
be upheld in the United States SEN
ate. He defended he Republican tariff
policy and declared against the Demo-
cratic proposal to abolish party en-
rollment in the primaries.
The platform introduced practically
no surprises. 1t went so far in the
plank dealing with the regulation of
public service corporations as to de-
clare in favor of mandatory powers
for the railroad commission.
The woman suffrage plank was most
mild. The only new feature was the
resolution touching on the situation at
Lawrence, as follows:
I'VE denounce as dangerous and I'M
American all attempts by public DEM
onstrations or private intimidation to
influence the action of courts and
juries in matters before them. We
approve the efforts Of the loyal citi-
zens Of Lawrence to give prominence
to the American flag as the insignia
of justice and liberty, law and or
der"
Democrats Of Massachusetts, in con-
vention at Fanueil hall adopted a pro-
gressive platform, nominated presi-
Dental electors for Wilson and Marsh
all, elected state committeeman at
large and hailed with enthusiasm pre-
dictions of all the speakers that Gov
ernor Wilson would be elected presi-
dent in November and that Governor
Foss would be given a third term as
chief magistrate of Massachusetts,.
Massachusetts Democrats never
held a more harmonious convention.
John F. Fitzgerald was permanent
chairman. No trace Of differences in
the recent Democratic primaries were
found in the convention.
The platform demands that the
Paine Aldrich tariff act be repealed
and demands the removal of duties
or all foodstuffs which are necessary
to life as a means of tightening in
measure the sufferings of the
people from the increased cost of liv-
ing
II says the raw material of manufac-
ture of our great industries should be
made at once free of duty or subject
only to the lowest rate of duty con-
sistent with a revenue tariff.
The question of equal suffrage, it
says, should be submitted to the vote
Of the people, in the manner provided
by the constitution.
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