The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-02-21
ROOSEVELT PLEDGES HIMSELF TO
PROGRESSIVE CAUSE IN BIG SPEECH

4 ID reoUA Uuf either the recall VII
/ have - ~ adopted or elsa u will
havs = hs made much easier thar
/ u nosssio - Get rid. not merely os Z
bad ju<ess but of Judge who. how
ever vtressus. has grown % out Of
toueh ~tts social nesds and facta
that ~ 10 unfit 10 longer render
I eood soevsee on the bench.
/ II 10 nenssnss 70 cay that I'm
4 lpsschnsenA meets the difficulty. In
actual praeAice svs have found that
| tmpeeehmsss does not work. Whsrs
sweh u the actual fact. Il 10 Idle "a
discuss The theory of the case. 4
auicher. = more summary remedy
10 neoosd-
When = Judge decides a consfi
sutiubel question. when he decides
what the people ~ whole can on
cannot do. ths people should have
the right TO recall that decision Il
they think II wrong We should
hold the Judiciary In all respect,
but II u both absurd and degrading
Ito flnkr u fetish Of Judge or Of
any ons else.
ocsneaIous Distractions
Again xed again In the past Just.
lc. has been nrAndalousiy obstruct.
"a BY state courts declaring state
flaws In conflict with the federal
constitution Although the supreme
court nf the nation has never so
decided. or had even decided In a
contrary sense. When the supreme
court OF the state declares given
statute Unconstitutional. because
In conflict with the state or the mn.
tionnl constitution. sss opinion
sheuld be uubjsct to revision by the
psopje theusstvss- n Il Ia sustain.
"a. we'll and good. II not. then the
popular verdict h 10 be accepted as
finsl: the decision In TO be treated
~ reversed.
"rt for Government"
Many eminent lawyers who more
or Iess frankly disbelieve In our en-
tire American system of govern
menf. for. BY and. of the people.
violently sntngonlze this proposal.
They believe. and some times as
sert. that the American people are
not fitted for popular government.
aud that IL In necessary TO keep
the judiciary Independent Of the
majority or OF all the people: "
that there must be no appeal to
the people from the decision OF a
court In any case. and that there
fore the judges are 10 be establish.
cd as sovereign rulers over the peo-
pie I take absolute Issue with all
those who hold such position.
II tho American people are not
III for popular government, and II
they should OF right be the servants
and not the masters OF the men
whom they have put In office. then
LIncoln's work was wasted and the
whole syetem OF government on
which this great democratic repnb-
lie rests Ia n failure. ! believe. on
the contrary. that the American
people are fit for complete self gov
eminent and that we OF this repub-
Tic have more nearly realized thnn
any other people on earth the Ideal
OF Justice obtained through genuine
popular rule. Then the courts
have the final say--so on all legis-
lative acts and IL no apepal can lie
from them 20 the people. then they
are the irresponsible masters OF the
people.
An long as injustice IL kept In
trenchcd by any court, Will pro-
test as strongly as In me lies
against such action. Remember.
all | am asking Ia that the people
themselves shall in the last resort
interpret the law which they them
selves have made. that after all |
am only asking that they step In
authoritatively and reconcile the
conflicting decisions OF the courts.