The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-08-18

= York Times, Mr.. Wilson Is quoted as say
| ing of the Progressive platform that ut
| would require a sabbath Days journey to
| drive through it" and for that reason he
| had not yet been able to find out what
1t was all about. If Mr.. Wilson has not
| been able to find out what our platform
| means, il Is because he has not taken the
! trouble to try. You may remember that
: Mr. Wilson stated two days after his own
nomination that he had not yet looked at
tho platform upon which he was nomi-
mated I do not wonder that when he
did at last look at that platform he be-
came so thoroughly discontented with II
that he now feels distase for all plat
forms.
We Progres.ivcs are much more for
/ tunate in our platform. We do not have
| 10 apologize for ii nor to speak Of II In
! language so carefully guarded as to con-
vey the impre ssion that We are endeavor-
ing neither to repudiatc IL nor to sup
port II. We stand on our platform. We
do ask that our platform be adopted by
| tho nation.
| At this moment ask your attention
only to the proposals that we make to
secure social and industrial Justice. In
the first place we set forth definitely
what we mean to try to secure at the
present time In tho way of social and
industrial justice-for instance. to secure
by law one days rest In seven for all
tinuous twenty-four hour industries. tho
prohibition Of child labor. the establish
ment of an eight hour day for women
and young persons. the erection Of mini
mum wage standards for working women,
workmens compensation acts, thesecuring
/ Of proper conditions Of life and labor for
! working men and women, and the preven-
tion Of occupational diseases and the
Viking of occupational health standards.
We do not intend to let either exec
utive or legislative officers forbid us
| to have such laws: and, my friends,
neither do We intend to let tho Judges
! forbid us to have such laws. Therefore
in our platform We have stated that we
/ intend to provide more easy and expedi-
tious methods Of amending the Federal
| Constitution, and that when in any State
a State court declares that a law passed
I for social aud industrial justice is un-
, constitutional then. after an ample in
terval for dcliberation. the pee pie shall
have tho opportunity themselves TO de-
! "ido by vote whether the act is to become
| law. notwithstanding such decision: for,
rs the platform says. the Progressive
| party demands such construction Of the
! power Of the courts as shall leave the
people themselves the ultimate authority
10 determine fundamental questions Of
social welfare and public policy.
! In taking this position We arc living
no To the teachings of the greatest Amer
! III" men who founded our Constitution,
| WHO founded our Government.
Tho EleN enth Amendment to the Federal
constitution. In the circumstances of its
| adoption and in tho language which II
cmbodics, contains the essence OF my
| proposition.
This amendment was rendered neces-
| saTy by decision Of the Supreme
! Court which interpreted, the Constitu-
/ ton in way which the people OF
! the country, who but a few years pre-
r'ously had adopted that Constitution, be-
| liercd to misinterpret that document.
Accordingly they passed the Eleventh
| Amendment to the Constitution, and in
| this amendment the people themselves,
speaking as the ultimate sovereign. in 30
many words stated that on the matter In
| question the Constitution was not to be
| construed as the Supreme Court had con-
| strued II. This Was an amendment ad
! hoe. and amendment limited to one given
decision Of the Supreme Court. an amend =
ment which specifically overturned that
| decision and declared that thereafter the
| Constitution should not bo construed as
the Supreme Court had construed It.
Now. remember, am not in this In
any shape or way attacking the judiciary.
Remember. am not discussing the
| judicial function Of Judges at all. but the
political function which American courts
| alone among the courts of tho world pos
sess. Tho power to set aside a law Is
not a judicial function.
| I hold that 1t inheres In the American
| people. that II inheres in the 1OO, 200, 900
OF free Americans. and I hold this with
| Lincoln and with every progressive in
| our history. Our opponents hold that the
100000 Of Americans have surrendered
this right to determine the condition under