The Detroit times., 1912-03-18
TAFT MAKES YELLED
THREAT AT ROOSEVELT


OF litigation, that which Justifies such
radical innovation.
II do not hesitate TO say that In my
Judgment a voluntary primary out.
sIde the law. known by its informal
character as soap box primary. IL
-unrre- -ReReEfor- IL gives fu.I
opportunity to the ineligible electors
OF the other party to cast unfair
votes and without the sanction and
A safesnard OF penal provisions in re-
spect 20 casting and counting the bal.
lots, Is an open avenue for fraud and
Violence Wherever full and fair no
tlce OF the election can be given,
wherever adequate election safe
guards can be thrown around TO pro-
fect a preferential primary for the
presidency, favor IL and welcome II.
1T is eminently appropriate that
In every election and In the discus
sion of all issues that affect the re-
public, we should discuss and hear
much of the popular will and OF the
rights OF the people This is gov
eminent based on popular control.
But IL is impossible for all the people
to take direct part in all government
al functions.
They must be represented by COM
petent persons TO carry out their gen.
eral will. In other words our govern
ment was for the people of the people
by a part OF the people, under fund
amental compact, which has vtndi-
Gated its wisdom, its equity and It's
utility In the growth of our country
In its beneflcient provisions from a
struggling three millions on the At
lantic coast, to a nation, continent
wide of ninety millions.
The government Is not founded on
the proposition that the people by one
expression or by one vote cannot
make mistakes.
There are those who by radical
change In our institutions would force
equality Of conditions as well as OF
opportunity. They would do this by
curtailing In one way or another the
control OF property. Those who have
studied closely the operations OF the
past believe that next to the right
OF liberty, the institution OF private
property is the greatest uplifter of
men that we have had
TT affords me pleasure to congrstu-
late the state of Massachusetts on tire
fact that its legislature, even before
the general sentiment to which ] re-
fer was aroused in the country. had
responded freely and sanely TO the de-
mands of the hour.
You have recently passed what Is
called presidential primary law for
the election of delegates to the nation.
al conventions, upon which will fall
the duty of selecting the presidential
nominees of the respective parties.
have not had an opportunity critically
to examine the new law, but am
sure II makes proper provision 10
meet the obvious requirements. AIN
glad that you have done this. The
question OF how delegates are 10 be
elected to any political convention, or
how nominees are to be selected by
party, was originally a matter or
merely party adjustment, but os I'M
portant to the public at large did the
character of the delegates to be Sc
lected by each party become, that the
state has properly interfered so as TO
throw safeguards around the exer.
else, by all OF those who belong TO a
party, of their privilege TO have
voice of their part candidates.
The president related an instance
where "a western governor" in urg-
ing legislature to violate a constitn-
tional provision to put law In opera
ton. declared that whatever Is right
Is constitutional" and quoted Lin
coins statement, The life of this
nation is greater than any cons'itu-
ton.
ut Is impossible to escape the
meaning OF such view," said the
president, that the plain construc-
ton of the constitution Is TO be per-
verted because 1t is thought that the
people at present would prefer not TO
be subject to the limitation contained
In the constitution lawfully adopted.
The words of Lincoln have here no
application. II is not true that what
ever Is right is constitutional unless
the declaration of the right Is con-
forbidden by 1t.
Suggestions Of that sort are dang
erous-because they put the ship
of state on a sea of troubles, without
rudder. They destroy that respect
for constituted authority that is cs-
sential to well ordered liberty The
strength OF the government and the
strength of the judiciary must rest
ultimately on the confidence Of the
people in their integrity. Irrespons-
ible assaults upon either in intenper-
ate language or on basefess assdHfF-
tons Of corruption, bias, or incompc.
,tency, made by those whose state
ments have influence with any part OF
the people are a serious menace IL
enduring government"
Dismal skies. riot OF Shamrock
green and an enthusiastic crowd,
despite his early arrival, greeted Pres
ident Taft at South station at o'clock
when he reached Boston for busy
celebration Of the Evacuation day and
st. Patrick's anniversary.
The president went Immediately to
the Boston City club where he shook
hands, From there he sped to the
Hotel Somerset where at $3.50 he had
a colonial breakfast" Mayor John
r. Fitzgerald and other officials were
hosts The chief executive was book
cd b attend seven meaIs today.
The remainder OF his program was