Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-04-16


good old times when there were no
corrupt practices acts and no laws
compelling publicity Of campaign con.
|tributions. It 10 personal checks the
boys must have now. no matter where
the money really comes from.
RoosEvELT's POLITICAL CREED.
Makes Plain Answers to Questions as
to His Principles.
Roosevelt in Outlook.)
A good friend Of mine who has been
asked many questions about the polit-
ical philosophy which L endeavored to
interpret and formulate in my Colu1n-
bus speech has put those questions in
the form of q short catechism: and in
answering them have endesvored to
outline the philosophy.
/ What 10 the aim for which political
Prooressives are striving?
The promotion of genuine popular
government III America. the defense OF
human rights. and the establishment
Of social and Industrial Justice. so that
every force in the community may be
directed towards securing for the aver.
age man and average woman higher
and better and fuller life In the things
Of the body no less than those Of the
mind and soul
Do you believe that the pursuit Of
this aim requires the adoption Of new
and radical principies7
No. I believe it requires q new and
radical application Of the old princi-
pies Of justice and common honesty.
which are as eternal as life ITSELF
New methods and new machinery are
needed for carrying thu Sc principles
into our national existence; and also
. broader sympathy. so that our JUS
tice may be !. ferrous and human. and
not merely legalistic.
Do you believe In a short baIlot3
do. consider 1t one Of the most
important methods to be adopted. BY
the short ballot" I mean the prin-
ciple of electing few men to important
Offices and making more administra-
tive ofnces appointive This is the
method that Is pursued In our Federal
government. The people have nothing
whatever to fear from giving any pub
lie servant power 80 long as they re-
tain their own power to hold him &C
countable to them. You will get best
service where you elect only few
men. each Of whom has his definite
duties and responsibilities. and is
obliged to work in the open 80 that
the people know who he Is and what
no does.
!. Do you believe In direct prtmarles1
do. In the state the primary should
be Of the simplest form consistent
with preventing fraud) that will en-
able each individual voter to act d.
rectly on the nomination Of elective
officers; in the nation presidential pri-
maries should be 80 framed that the
voters may chose their delegates to
the national conventions, and at the
same time express their preference for
nominees for the presidency. At the
present moment our political machines
are using their power to defraud the
people out Of their right to make nomi-
nations.
+; DO you believe In the election Of
;Unttsd States senator's BY the peo-
pier
do. think the people are Just as
competent to elect United States sena-
tors directly as they are to elect gov
Iernors or representatives In congress
or state legislatures.
Z; Do you believe In the initiative or
referendum
Yes, under certain definite limita-
lions. Action by the initiative or ref
erendum ought not to be the normal
way of legislation; I think the legis-
ilature should be given an entirely free
hand. But / believe the people should
have the power to reverse or supple
ment the work Of the legislature. when.
ever It becomes necessary.
! Do you beiieves In the recaIif
! I believe the people should be pro-
;;vided with the means Of recalling or
.un-electing important elective admin
iistrative officers. to be used only when
there is widespread and genuine pub
Tic feeling for such recall among .
of the voters. believe that
there is scant necessity for using 1t in
connection with shortterm elective Of.
.hcers.
; % you believe In the recall Of
fjudoes7
: I believe that the evils which have
lied to the very widespread proposal
f! to apply the recall to Judges are very
real. I see no reason Why the people.
I II they are competent 70 elect judges.
are not also competent to un-elect
Them. I think the Judiciary should be
(made clearly to understand that they
represent Justice for the whole people,
Personally, and having IN Wow the sue
scess OF tho Massachusetts system. I
am ct present inclined to believe that
Judges should be appointive. Then
We can apply the principle Of the re-
call to the appointive power. In ad-
dition, would have the appointive
Judges removable; and. in feeling our
way to the proper solution. I would
try having this done by . majority
vofA ~ $hA Turn hna,aaa ~ th> 1A~ia1a.