The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-04-12
Taft i'm Vigorous
Defense OfCOurt
DENOUNCES RECALL OF
JUDGES AND DECISIONS
Accuses Many Advocates of Being
Insincere Demagogues, Seek
ing Changes.
Declares Profound Protest Has
Come From All Thinking Peo-
pie Against Recall.

NEW YORK. April 1l.-President
Taft charged tonight that many OF
those persons who advocate the recall
OF judges or the recall OF judicial de-
cisions are insincere demagogues. act
ing without sufficient knowledge Of the
need for the preservation OF the con-
stitution or its guarantees. Some OF
the men who preach the recall, he
said. were sincere, but all of them act
ed from desire to propose changes
rather than with any definite plan for
the improvement of conditions. The
President was speaking TO the Union
League Club of New York. He men.
toned no names, but announced with
emphasis that the sensitive nerve" OF
the serious-minded people OF the coun.
try had been touched by these pro-
posals. and that when they realized
that "impious hands were likely 10 be
laid upon the ark of the covenant"
the judicial branch OF the government,
profound protest was heard from
''all thinking people"
Mr.. Taft came to New York to keep
two engagements. The first was with
fellow members OF the class OF Yale
'7s. at the University club: the other
with the Union League club. which re
Gently announced its endorsement Of
his candidacy.
Resents Attack On Government.
In beginning his speech, the Presi-
dent thanked the Union League clubs
of New York and Philadelphia. for
their endorsements OF his candidacy.
II has been unusual for these organi-
cations, he said. to take any part in
-cnnUanFinn ssRtrf hn
added, circumstances have made the
present pre-convention campaign OF
such a character that both the Phila-
delphia and New YORK clubs have in
dicated In resolutions a conviction on
the part OF not anly all their members
that there is something at stake in
this campaign that should awaken the
interest and arouse the action of all
who believe in the principles and form
OF government that are embodied in
our present constitution. and who
cherish the Institutions preserved and
secured by that constitution as es
sential TO the maintenance OF liberty
regulated by law.
Call Them Demasosues.
The necessity that there was for
arousing our people to prevent the
power and TO wrest from concentrated
wealth the exercise OF political con-
troll and the success that had attend ii
such agitation among the people" he
continued. "have been taken advan.
tage OF by persons, some OF them sin
cere. some OF them demagogues, and
all OF them with an insufficient
knowledge OF the necessity IN the
maintenance OF liberty and progress
of our constitution and its guarantees
TO propose changes rather for the
sake OF change than with any definite
plan OF improving the body polite.
Because courts have not manifested
as quick perception OF the advantages
10 be realized from these proposed
changes and In some instances have
perhaps unduly broadened constitu-
tional restrictions TO declare them in.
valid. Il Is proposed 10 change the
whole nature OF our judicial system
and render II subject to popular re-
view either by what IL called the re-
call Of the judges when their conduct
on the bench is not approved by a
majority OF the voting electorate or
by a recall OF decisions. or a reversal
OF the judgment OF the judges when
ever they declare invalid a legislative
enactment which they deem 10 be in
violation OF the fundamental law
Defends Courts.
1T was not until the sensitive nerve
OF the serious minded people Of this
country was touched by the PROPOSE.
ton 10 recall the judges or 70 recall
their decisions that such people Of all
classes began 10 realize that impious
hands we're likely 10 be laid upon the
ark of the covenant. which IL the In.
dependence Of the judicial branch OF
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