New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-11
Mr.. Root Defends the Bench.


Mr.. Root Defends the Bench.
Tho DAYS work began without incident.
The temporary organization Of the con-
vention vas made permanent Then me
platform adopted carly this morning by the
committee on resolutions was read. end
Mr. Barnes moved its adoption. Senator
Root made the first speech seconding II.
He confined himself entirely to the subject
OF the judicial recall. saving
The founders of our Republic we're wise
men IN more vavs than one They under
and they were men Of affairs. They FOUND,
ed our government on two fundamental
bases They learned that our natures are
weak, prone to err. subject 70 being LED
Our forefathers embodied the declaration
of principles which ne call constitutional
limitations into laws because they. reahzed
that the people needed protection from I'M
pulse. These constitutional limitations are
necessarily impersonal and established IN
the abstract They are established with no
desire 70 do wrong and constitute the near
est approach which humanity can make 70
the divine rule These limitations cannot
be enforced unless there is. some way OF
saving whether they are violated. That Is
what the Judiciary is for. That Is why our
forefathers established the courts 70 do
Justice !mpartially between the rich ana
the poor alike. These courts are necessary
TO maintain our free institutions 70
threaten Judge with the recall is 10 MAKE
a coward OF him
such a rule will prevent the protection
OF the weak individual among the mass ana
the mob You must say here ,tnod ieas n
Of popular rule All of the voters IN Amer. .
lea cannot make injustice justice. ~ mus s
he subject 10 the eternal rule when re
quires Just conduct Of one person 70 an
other.
One pathway to-day leads TO anarchy ana
despotism and the other leads 70 prosperity
and liberty and order preserved oy }usuce
1t is for you to say which we will take.
For Representative Government.
Following Mr.. Root Mr.. Wadsworth wss
heard In defence Of representative govern
ment Though nc inveighed against direcf
LEGISLATION, he admitted that the legislative
system in this state at present was by no
means perfect He said II was breaking
down because OF the mass OF Ill considered.
hastily drawn and, in some cases, joker
ridden bills presented TO each Legislature.
He advocated some system similar TO tina:
I'm use in England under which a special
board OF legislative experts passes on pro-
posed legislation as TO necessity and FORM
Mr. Wadsworth said. in part:
Our government IS being attacked to-day
IN all its branchcs-eXecutive, legislative ana
judicial Through the operation OF what Is
known as the recall election. all executive
and judicial officers are 20 be Slapped OF
their courage and that degree OF independ-
ence which IS so essential 10 the intelligent
performance OF their functions and are 10
be compelled 70 accede 70 the popular whm
or sentiment OF the hour under pain OF
immediate removal and disgrace.
BY means OF these twin weapons, known
as tho popular initiative and referendum:
tho legislative branch Is being deprived or
its power and sense OF responsibility and -
being reduced 10 a condition which can hold
forth no inducements 10 men or aoihty ana
self-respect: and. furthermore-and this IS
more important-the judiciary is being fore
stalled I'm any effort that branch might
make in protecting the minority OF the peo-
pie from injustice and oppression az the
hands Of the majority.
Public Will Supreme.
The foundations OF our government are
laid in the principle that 4 people can best
gcvern them selves by selecting from their
midst representatives who shall act Tor
them and bear the responsiointy IN me
broad light Of day. Al no time nave our
people been unable 10 control their destlnies
under this system. No executive or leSls-
lature has ever succeeded In ultimately
ttwartng the popular VIII. II there mas
seemed to he DELAY AZ times may detay mar
been generally compensated for by an
added efficiency In the reform when Is ultl-
mately accomplished.
lob Hedges had the task Of making
the convention and the galleries forget
through his Jokes what Controller Prem
dergast had said He declared the party
vas going 10 nominate President Taft
second time because he ought to be re-
nominated. and would elect him. II wasn't
a question Of how he was to he reelected.
he said hut OF by how big n majority.
Among other things Mr. Hedges said:
Shall tho people rule? I answer Yes"
Have the people ruled? 7 reply that they
VIII the people rule? ! leave that 20 the
neople themselves. How thoroughly they
may rule depends upon the people them
selves and not upon the pessimtstic out
APOSTLES dealing in the stolen goods OF ig-
norance and untruth and. while claiming to
act under n power of attorney. merely de-
ceive those whom they claim 10 represent.
10 assume that the people do not and
have not ruled, or even may not. IL to
assume that the person making the charge
Is deaf. dumb and blind 70 history ana is
conscious only Of his individual existence.
made apparent to himself through self-con-
temptation.
After Mr. Hedges had been heard the
motion on the adoption Of the platform was
put and carried These delegates-at-large
and alternates were then named:
Senator Elihu Root. William Barnes. jr..
William Berri. OF Brooklyn, and Edwin A.
Merritt. Speaker OF the State Assembly.
Alternates: Senator Edgar T. Bracket. of
Saratoga Charles w. Anderson OF New
York. George W. whitehead. OF Niagara
Falls. and p. W. Il. Brown, of New York.
The usual resolutions authorizing the
thanking the convention officers were
passed. and the convention adjourned sine
die