The Detroit times., 1912-02-21
ROOSEVELT COMES
OUT FOR SWEEPING
REFORM MEASURES
Favors Initiative and Referen-
dunn and Direct Nomina-
tions by People.
SOUNDS BATTLE CRY
FOR G. o. P. PROGRESSIVES
Declares For Conditional Recall
of Judges and Says: "The
People Must Rule"

1 ZULU MbOS, W., feD. Zl.-We pro-
gressives believe that the people have
the right, the power and the duty TO
protect themselves and their own wei
fare; that human rights are supreme
over all other rights; that wealth
should be the servant, not the master
OF the people," said Col. Roosevelt in
an address TO the Ohio constitutional
convention today. Although he did
not intimate directly or indirectly
that he was a candidate for president
again, his speech today was really a
declaration of the principles upon
which he will stand should the Chi
cago convention nominate him as the
Republican, candidate.
1t was estimated that more than l.
600 persons packed the convention
1 hall when Roosevelt entered.
| His appearance on the floor was the
signal for demonstration that lasted
several minutes. Cheers, the rebel
yell, handicapping and the waving OF
handkerchiefs by the women all COM
bined to make the greeting one OF the
most demonstrative ever Witnessed in
the legislative hall
Personal friends and ardent sup
porters who have visited the former
president in New York. have stated
/ that he would accept the nomination
IL 1t were rendered, and Col. Roose-
velt's utterances today were especial
ly intended for the LaFollette follow
ers who have been leaning toward
him more strongly since the Wiscon.
sin statesman suffered nervous
breakdown, and IL became evident
that Roosevelt was the logical man
to lead the cause for the Republican
progressives. Gov. Johnson. Of Cali
| fornia, had been interviewing Col.
Roosevelt In New York, especially III
regard to his views on the initiative,
referendum and recall. The Califor-
MIA progressive announced Monday
that he had shifted his support from
LaFollette to Roosevelt Col. Roose-
velt's announcement today that he
stands for the direct nominations by
the people, including direct prefer
entail primaries for the election OF
delegates TO the national nominating
conventions and the initiative, refer
endum and recall. indicates that there
has been distinct understanding be-
tween the LaFollette supporters and
| the former president. Col. Roose-
veft,s declaration for progressive prin-
| ciples today is more pronounced than
| ever before.
Conservation OF does not stop with
| the natural resources" continued Col.
| Roosevelt today. The principle or
making the best use of all we have
requires that we shall stop the waste
| of human welfare which flows from
the unfair use OF concentrated power
and wealth i'm the hands OF men whose
eagerness for profit binds them to the
cost of what they do. We have no
higher duty than to promote the ell
ficiency OF the individual.
81 am emphatically believer in
constitutionalism and because OF this
fact, I no less emphatically protest
against any theory that would make
/ OF the constitution a means OF thwart-
ing instead OF securing the absolute
right of the people to rule themselves
and TO provide for their own social
and industrial well-being. All con-
stitutions, those of the states no less
than that OF the nation. are designed
and must be interpreted and admins
tered so as TO At human rights.
| 1T Is a false constitutionalism,
false statesmanship, to endeavor Dy
the exercise OF perverted ingenuity
10. seem TO give the people full power
and at the same time 10 trick them
/ out Oh IL. el AllS 10 pitNioNiy
Is done in every case where the state
! permits its representatives, whether
on -tha-beneh or in the legislature, or
in executive Office. to declare that IL
has not the power TO right grave So
| cial wrongs or that any or the ON
GERS created by the people and right
| fully the servants of the people can
set themselves up to be masters or
the people.
The only prosperity worth having
lis that which affects the mass OF the
people. We are bound TO strive for
-tyrTU7 ratr- distribution prosperity "
But IL behooves us 10 remember that
There Is no use I'm devising methods
for the proper distribution OF pros
Ipeflty unless the prosperity Is there
lto distribute. | hold IL TO be our duty
TO see that the wage worker. the
small producer the ordinary consum-
or shall get their fair share OF the
lbenefit OF business prosperity.
Therefore | hold that he Is the
real progressive, thar he Is the
genuine champion OF the people who
endeayors 20 shape the policy alike
OF the nation and OF the several
states so as to encourage legitimate
and horest business at the same
time that he wars against all crook
edness and injustice in the business
world What is needed Is. first. the
nm