The Washington herald., 1912-02-22
Mr.. ROosevelt's Speech.


Theodore Roosevelt's address before
he Ohio constitutional convention is a
direct bid, as The Washington Herald
predicted, ior the leadership of the pro-
gressive wing of the Republican party.
It is the platform upon which he will
stand should his party decide upon him
as its nominee
The speech divides the Republican
party into two distinct elements. The
organization now has two leaders.
Roosevelt represents the progressive
action, while under Mr.. Taft is mar
ihaled the sentiment which in contra
distinction rather than actual fact may
De called conservative The situation
-ecalls 1896, when the Democratic party
iirided under Cleveland and Bryan, ex-
Eept that in this year the questions at
',ssue deal with great ethical and gov
srnmental problems instead of the value
of the dollar 1t is now TO be a struggle
between the two wings of the party for
control Mr. Roosevelt, like every man
who tskes-a positive stand, has undoubt-
edly alienated many, but he has also
strengthened himself among his fol-
lowers, and may, indeed, have added
to their number His forceful and
earnest expressions, his deep convictions
as to the methods whereby the general
welfare of the nation can be advanced,
and, above all, his abiding faith in the
American people will unquestionably
meet with much acceptance.
For, after all. the keynote of his ad-
dress is that the American people can
he trusted. He admits that they are not
infallible; but do say" he adds, that
our whole history shows that the Amer
lean people are more often sound in their
decisions than is the case with any of
the governmental bodies to whom, for
instance, they have delegated portions
of their power" Throughout his en-
tire address this confidence in the
American people to solve rightly the
problems which confront them is made
manifest. 1t is a position which will
meet with prompt response because it is
true
Deeply convinced of this great fact,
Mr. Roosevelt, as natural sequence.
ranges himself completely in harmony
with the movement toward a larger de-
gree of individual responsibility in gov
ernment which has so strongly devel-
oped during recent years. He believes
in the direct primary system, in the di-
rect election of United States Senator's,
in the initiative and referendum within
certain limits, and in the recall, al
though in the matter of applying the lat
ter system to the judges he would adopt
It only as the last resort and when it
has become evident that no other course
will achieve the desired result In elab-
Grating his views upon this phase of
popular government, he takes issue with
President Taft, whose assertion that it
is necessary to keep the judiciary "in-
dependent of the majority or of all the
people" he quotes with disapproval He
regards it as both absurd and degrad-
ing to make fetch of a Judge or any
one else, and cites the action of Abra-
ham Lincoln's opposition to the Dred
Scott decision as an instance where the
cour; was wrong and Lincoln and the
peopIe were right 1t is, therefore, nat
ural that he should indorse Lincoln's
remark that if the vital policies of gov
erument are TO be irrevoeably settled by
the United States Supreme Court the
people will have ceased to be their own
ralers
It is in this sympathetic and hearty
insistence upon a larger measure of
popular control in government that Mr..
Roosevelt makes evident his progressive
spirit On the question of the regula-
ton of business he is in harmony with
abe universal sentinent-that honest
business. large and small, should be en-
rouraged and protected, but that any cor
poration guilty of 'demoralizing and cor
ript practices" should be severely dealt
with There win be general agreement,
100, with his proposition-although it.