The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-28
R AYNER CALLS
COL ONEL CRAZY
Says Columbus Speech
Is Not the Worst
One.
DESIRED TO
CONTROL COURTS
Was Always Hostile to Decisions
Which Did Not Coincide With
His Own Vicws-Suggests
Few Amendments to Con-
stitution for Roose-
velt's Benefit.

ash!ngton. February 27-Reversal
OF judicial decisions by popular vote
as proposed By Ex-President Roosevelt
IN ms Columbus address last week. was
denounced In the Senate DAY by Son
ator Rayner. of Maryland, as the mos,
dangerous doctrine ever brought for
"drd ny any one who has the slightest
regard Tor the stability Of our insti
.uuons and whose opinion is entitled
70 any weight or respect"
Senator Rayner declared his ba,iaf
that the Republicans coula nominate
no man who would be easier to defeat
Tor the presidency than Colone! Roos,.
welt. $3.50
Senator Rayner then refers to Coll
! onel Foosevelt's speech at Columbus
proposing reversal Of judicial de-
eis!ohs by popular vote. and declares
mat II proposition of this sort had
oeen advanced by an ordinary acita,or
an anarchist, no attention would
! DC paid TO IT,; the people would un-
deTstand that 1t was utterly meaning
less, and It would involve no actual
danger to the republic. We must re-
aiize, however. that this is the utter
ance OF a political leader who occupies
To-Day as prominent place before tn,
pubic as any one In the country, who
Is gifted with tremendous power. who
commands great popularity. md Yho
| Tor seven years occupied the position
OF President of the United States. and
who is now a candidate again for o.
nee"
Craxiest OF All.
Senator Rayaer then quotes an edi-
toriai iii a leading newspaper TO tn,
effect that Colonel Roosevelt's proposal
is the craziest that ever cnanatod
either from himself or any other states
man since the organization OF our gov
eminent by law.
Il am Inclined 10 think that the las,
criticism goes perhaps a little too far
| when 1t says that 1t IS the crates.
proposal that ever tsmanated from
| himself, because I have from time to
time taken the liberty to submit 10
the Senate number of other proposals
OF the ex-President which are equal 10
to 1t In this regard. He has always
been hostile to the decisions CT the
courts whenever they connictcd with
his own views, and he has over and
| over again. in private and in public
given expression to his opposition TO
them.
Courts Not Dominated.
Now. there Is a motive for all this
and there is a cause for this attack
upon the institutions of the land. 1t
arises from the fact that when Mr.
| Roosevelt was President he was no;
allowed 20 influence and control the
decisions of the courts, and they de-
ciined to pass under the DONNA ton OF
his arbitrary and imperious Will.
During the whole OF his admlnistra-
ton he had an idea lingering in his
mind that It was the duty OF the
courts to carry out the policy OF the
executive branch of the government,
and this belief was connected with an
other idea, and that was that. so far as
executive functions were concerned.
he was absolutely supreme unlimited
by tho specifications OF the instrument
that created them"
In order 20 do away with great
deal of unnecessary intermediary pro-
cess" the Senator said, he had written
a few amendments TO the Constitution
for the ex-President, which he would
like to tender him III he Is again called
to the throne" These amendments,
from which he read at length, would
invest in the Colonel all the powers
of Observation-Disclosures executive
and judicial-in order that he might
properly govern the people. who have