Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-02
PRESS COMMENT
ON COL. ROOSEVELT
Roosevelt at Columbus.

:
! Roosevelt at Columbus.
| George E. Roberts in Fort Dodge
Messenger: In his address at Column
bus, ex-President Roosevelt is under
stood to have presented what he be-
| lieves to be the dominant issues of the
day-the overpowering issues which
now compel him to recant his solemn
declaration that under no circum-
staLces would he accept another NOM
ination for the presidency, and force
him to lead a movement to defeat the
denomination and reelection of Presi-
dent Taft. If we mistake not the move
ment is planned to reach beyond the
of failure there contemplates an at
tack upon the republican party itself.
The address deals with academic
subjects rather than with any vital
issue. It consists largely Of general
tiles and platitudes, and new political
parties are not called into being in
this manner. Nobody in this country
needs to be told that the powers
vested in the various branches of the
government are derived from the body
of the people. We all know as we'll
that the manner in which these
powers find effective expression
changes naturally with the develop
ment of a people. We have had the
Roosevelt word for it that the initia-
tive and referendum and judicial re-
call would be out of place in the
Philippine islands. 1t is agreed that
the simple natives would not know
how to enjoy such blessings. There
are said to be people down on the east
side in New York City who know but
little more about such things than the
Filipinos, and occasional happenings
elsewhere indicate that a considerable
portion of our population is only i'm
perfectly prepared to deal, individ-
ually, directly and finally with all Of
the problems of government.
Mr.. Underwood, democratic leader
of the house of representatives. put
the case recently in afmanner that
must appeal to the judgment of intel
ligent people, when he said that the
majority of people are better qualified
to Judge of men than of measures. In
other words, the average man, occu-
pied with his private affairs, is bet
ter able to select some one to repre-
sent him in the making of laws than
he is to be a law maker himself; bet
ter able to select some one to inter-
pref the laws than he is to be Judge
himself. Even If all men were equal in
ability and learning this would be
true. because men gain IN qaaliflca-
tions by experience.
Colonel Roosevelt shrinks from his
~ 1I1y CT
ballot. The argument for the short
ballot is that If you attempt to have
the voters make direct choice OF all
the many public officials that are
necessary the average man will not be
able to discriminate and bad govern
ment must result, Of course. And yet,
this "short ballot" movement is simply
reaction from the popular govern
ment" movement of few years ago
when the fad was that the people, as
the true source of power, must choose
every official by direct primaries. So
here we have as one Of the chief fads
of today plan to relieve us OF the
mischievous effects of one of the fads
of yesterday.
The fact is that the people never
have any real trouble in making their
wishes known or their powers effec-
tive. All of our troubles come from
public Indifference. Whether officials
are nominated by primaries or conven-
tions if most of the voters choose to
take no part the few who have per-
sonal interests to serve are likely to
use undue influence.
Everybody agrees that power comes
from the people and should be used
for the service of all the people. The
conservative member of society asks
ONLY that the matured and settled
Judgment of the people shall be known
rather than that every gush OF pas
sion shall be carried into statutes and
judicial decisions. All agree that the
man who commits murder should be
punished, but while the conservative
insists that punishment shall be after
properly conducted trial the "popu-
lar will" bursts out in clamor that
he be taken forthwith. hanged. his
body burned and clothes divided for
souvenirs. OF course it is fictitious
popular demand, but it has Its way for
the day. We want as little as possible
of it in the conduct of our institutions.
The sober, we'll considered judgment
of the American people will always be
promptly expressed in every branch
of our government. There is no clear
cut issue in the Columbus address.
There is no real necessity, on &C
count of these questions over the con-
stantly changing machinery of our
government for Theodore Roosevelt
to become candidate for a third
term. We can not but think that he
is making a grave mistake in allowing
designing people to SO persuade him.