New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-10
Declares 1t "FoIIy' for Repub-
IiCanS to Try to Lure Pro-
greSSiveS Back Into
Organization.
AGAIN ATTACKS N. Y. COURT
Colonel Tells His Followers the
Great Corporation Lawyer
Is Apt To Be Poorest
Interpreter of the
Constitution.


ing or dickering with the old parties
fight To have our platform principles
embodied in the laws Of Illinois, was
the appeal Colonel Roosevelt made to-
day TO the newly elected Progressive
members of the Illinois Legislature. TO
whom he delivered his first speech OF
the Progressive conference, which
opened informally to-day and will con-
tinue over Wednesday.
Besides pleading with the Progress
sives to stand alone in their fight. the
eX-President criticised the New York
Court Of Appeals, designating its posi-
ton on the bakeshop cases as "prepos-
terous.' He also criticised the Repub-
lican organization. declaring il was of
such character that no honest man
can be i'm it,
While the formal opening Of the con-
ference will not occur until tomorrow.
large number Of Progressives. both
men and women. already are here. The
largest single delegation to arrive to-
DAY came from New York on a speciai
ua.n with Colonel Roosevelt. who was
greeted at the railroad station with
cAeers and shouts: He can come hack -
am very glad to have the chance
10 come out here and say auain tba.
we are IN the fight to the end and that
u is folly for the Republicans TO waste
time IN thinking Of any attempt 70 IrJr.
us back into the orga nization that thew
nave made OF such a character that no
honest man can be in it," Colonel
roosevelt said in his talk to the Illi q.
nois legislators.
Wants Pledges Kept.
Colonel Roosevelt also had this to
say:
Progressive members OF the legislatures
ana OF Congress have a task OF peculiar
Importance. They should make good. as
lar as possible. our platform pledges
We owe N 10 ourselves 10 see thar our
platform pledges are kept We have not
control OF any legislature or Congress
Progressive members should introduce ali
measures We promised in the campaign
ana try az hard ds they know To have
them adopted.
our opponents now are making loud
professions Of their hp-loyalty 10 Pro-
gresslVe principles so make them show
up or back up" They say that most or
our measures are uncOnstitutionai W.
arc the heirs Of the Republicanism Of
Abraham Lincoln and the Republicans
VINO Fought in the civil War fincoln's
opponents also said he was trying 10
pun down the Constitution.
They are all Golden Circle mem
bers,' some out shouted. and the colo
mel responded:
Yes, the Knights OF the Golden circle
were profound admirers OF the Constitu-
ton. The Constitution should be an In
strument for securing justice and not a
barrier between the people and justice
He then discussed at length the
worltmen's compensation and eight
hour laws. IT was in this connection
that he discussed the action Of the
New York court OF Appeals in over
ruling in effect the United States Su-
preme Court saying:
The court held the New York constitu-
ton supreme and put the people OF that
state in the position OF making II neces-
SaTy for them TO have the United States
Constitution amended by vote OF three
fourths OF the states If they wanted II to
be in conformity with the New York laws.
Such a position was prepOsterous.
hope that you will put into the laws
of Illinois, as | shall try to put into
the laws of New York, a provision that
II the people want certain laws no
official. governor, Legislature or court.
shall have the power TO prevent them
from obtaining those laws.
In speaking OF criticism aimed at him
during the last campaign for certain
criticisms he made Of New York court
decisions. the colonel said that -four
great corporation lawyers, headed by
Mr. Root" had questioned his opinion.
He added that experience had taught
him that the great corporation lawyer
who was paid big fees by wealth.
clients for interpreting the Constitution
WAS liable TO be the poorest interpreter
OF IT.
Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon character
ized as widest gossip tonight re-
ports of a contemplated effort by GER
tain Progressives TO oust George w.
Perkins from the chairmanship of the
executive committee and to eliminate
him generally as prominent figure in
the party It was also emphatically
denied that the presence of Colonel
Roosevelt vas due TO a plan to exert
his personal influence to head off, the
alleged movement.