Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-10
LOOKS TOSUPPORT
FROM OLD PARTIES


to our methods Of applying the Constitu-
ton stand on an exact level with their
predecessors. the so-called conservatives
OF fifty years ago, the men who opposed
that the old Constitution was good
enough for them. Fifty years ago the
conservatives championed a view Of the
Constitution which perpetuated chattel
slavery for black men; the corresponding
conservatives of today champion an in
depreciation Of the Constitution which
perpetuates industrial slavery for white
men. women and children.
Like Conservatives of the Past.
''The men who fight such proposals as
We have made to secure justice when
the courts do injustice are as emphati-
cally the apostles of reaction as were the
men who fifty years ago defended the
Dred-Scott decision by the Supreme Court
and sought to prevent the prohibition of
slavery by the Constitution.
Il believe that the progressive party
and all good citizens and all believers in
genuine popular rule should heartily sup
port the proposed constitutional amend
ment recently introduced by Senator Bris-
tow to secure the people of the United
States proper control Of their own gov
eminent. These amendments embody the
fundamentals Of the progressive position
they will secure the right to appeal to
the people of the country when fmpor-
tant legislation is blocked by adroit po-
litical manipulation, and the right of the
necessary and Ong-drawn delay and pro-
crastinatfon. to make and to interpret the
purpose of their own Constitution. The
adoption Of these Bristow amendments,
including that providing for the direct
election of United States senators. will
make 1T comparatively easy to secure
the passage of desirable laws and to keep
them in efficient shape on the statute
book.
As to Leadership.
I'm the matter Of leadership. both local
and national. We may trust the events
Of the next year or two to develop our
ablest and most resourceful men: and
for every position the leader must be
chosen, not in the least with reference
to his own desires, but solely with re-
gard to the needs of the people, for the
progressive party is the servant of the
people. No man should come into this
party with the idea that he can estab-
lish a claim on It: he must be content
with the opportunity 1t offers for service
and for sacrifice
Roosevelt Greeted With Cheers.
Col. Roosevelt was greeted at the rail-
road station with cheers and shouts of
HE can come back" when he arrived in
Chicago yesterday afternoon. He de-
livered his first address OF the conference
which opened Informally yesterday to the
newly elected progressive members of the
Illinois legislature.
without traficking or dickering with
the old parties. fight to have our plat
form principles embodied in the laws of
>oy. ri 20
II am very glad to have the chance to
come out here and say again that We are
in the fight to the end, and that it is
folly for the republicans to waste time
back into the organization that they have
made OF such character that no honest
man can be in it, Col Roosevelt said in
his talk to the Illinois legislators.
Duty Of the Progressives.
Progressive members of the Iegisla-
lures and OF Congress have q task of pc
culiar Importance. They should make
good. as far as possible. our platform
pledges. We owe it to ourselves to see
that our platform pledges are kept. We
have not control OF any legislature or
Congress. Progressive members should
campaign and try as hard as they know
to have them adopted Our opponents now
are making loud professions of the lip
loyalty to progressive principles, SO make
them show up or back up.
He then discussed at length the work
mems compensation and eight-hour laws.
IT was In this connection thats he dis
cussed the action of the New York court
of appeals in overruling in effect the
United States Supreme Court.
For Popular Rule.
1.-The court held the New York consti-
tuition supreme and put the people Of that
state in the position of making 1t neces-
sary for them to have the United States
Constitution amended by a vote of three
fourths Of the states il they wanted 1t to
be in conformity with the New York
laws. Such position was preposterous.
II hope" he continued. that you will
put into the laws Of Illinois. as I shall
try to put into the laws OF New York. a
proyision that il the people want certain
laws no Oficial, governor. legislature or
court shall have the power to prevent
them from obtaining those laws"