New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-11
Tells ProgresSiveS They Must
Continue to Stand To-
gether in Campaign for
Their Principles.
SCORES THE IDAHO COURT
Takes Up the Fight for George
w. Perkins, Who Also De-
fends Himself-Again In
sists That the People
Must Rule.

Chicago, Dec 10.-Theodore Roose-
York, were the leading figures at the
national conference of the new Pro-
gresslve party here to-day. Colonel
Roosevelt, DEPRESSING from ?. prepared
address, attacked the Idaho State SUI
preme Court for its decision during the
recent campaign regarding Presidential
electors. Mr.. Perkins took the centre
Of the stage when IL became known
that certain of his fellow Progressives
had started "A movement TO oust him
from the national executive committee
because Of his former corporate con-
nections.
Colonel Roosevelt took up the fight
for Mr.. Perkins during an address to
delegates at the conference. Pointing
out Mr. Perkins and calling him by
name. the colonel declared that the
New York fnancier was one OF the men
he was proud to have as fellow work
ers in the Progressive party.
Mr.. Perkins made a speech, in which
he asserted that he always had been
for progressive causes and measures
and that he resented an intimation that
he was a new convert to the cause.
Criticises Idaho Court.
Taking up the subject OF the Idaho
Supreme Courts elector decision
Colonel Roosevelt said:
In Idaho the election law makes no
provision for the election Of Presidential
electors. The Supreme Court permitted
Republican and Democratic electors to be
put on the ticket by constituting a pro-
constables and other officers TO include
Presidential electors, but held that the
Progressive ticket could not be noni-
mated by petition because the highest
number OF votes enumerated, as neces-
sary TO nominate by petition was 300 for
the election OF state officials. They said
that the electors were not state officials.
The Supreme Court OF the United States
not national officials.
l defy any honest and intelligent man
to read that decision OF the Supreme
Court OF Idaho and compare the laxity
OF the construction BY which they con-
strued a statute which did not make any
provision for electors at all TO permit the
Republican and Democratic Iarties TO
vote on tfe electors, and the quibblinS
and the technlcalty OF construction by
which they construed the statute to pro-
hiblt the Progressive party from getting
electors.
The Progressves OF Idaho had 20 write
In on the election ballot the names of
the Presidential electors, ard the extra
ordinary thing is that over twenty five
thousand men did 80 write them in--ovcr
twenty-five thousand men and women, !
should say. ! arG using the term mon in
the generic sense. as n always must be
used In a gathering OF Progressives.
Now. THE Capital News" of Boise.
the leading Progress paper OF Idaho.
criticised that decision. The most often
sive criticism they made was TO Include
telegram from me In which | spoke
OF the decision with guarded moderation.
but stlll with franltness.
| hold that decision was an outrageous
decision. ! hold that II was the duty OF
every honest citizen TO protest against
IL and to denounce IL i'm the strongest
terms.
And now that Idaho court, continuing
to serve the cause OF reaction, has sum
moned Mr.. Sheridan, the editor OF the
paper ard others before it for contempt.
They have 1t I'm their power now, by the
inflction OF a sufficiently heavy fine. to
ruin the only paper with the independence
TO stand up against such a monstrous per-
version Of justice In Idaho;
party makes good any fine. and ! hope
that we will send out the ablest lawyers
to fight that case, and that We give the
widest publicity TO our reprobation OF the
conduct OF that court.
The people OF the United States should.
with one voice. Join i'm condemning what
has been done and prevent the consun
nation Of the outrage.
Colonel Roosevelt's discussion of the
Idaho case was received with cheering
by delegates that continued for several
UphoIds Party Principles.
Then Colonel Roosevelt went on with
his prepared speech. in which he said:
In this brief campaign we have over
thrown the powerful and corrupt machine
that betrayed and strangled the Repub
lean party. Some day the honest men
Continued on eighth page, third column.