Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-22
Former President Makes
Address Before Constitu-
tional Convention at CO..
lumbus.
BIG BUSINESS AND
TRUSTS DISCUSSED
Antitrust Law Should Pro
vide Fixed Governmental
Policy to Define Wrong
doing, Says Roosevelt.

Columbus. O.. Feb 21.-Former
President Theodore Roosevelt today
addressed Ohio's fourth constitutional
convention which has been in session
here since January 9, and offered the
delegates his views on some OF the
more important matters now pending
In convention. Col. Roosevelt arrived
from New York at 9:55 .. m.
Politicians from all parts of Ohio
came to Columbus to hear Col. Roose-
velt express his views on matters
pending in the convention which have
been the subject of political debate
throughout the state. Interest IN
the speech was heightened by the fact
that Gov. Harmon, few days ago out
lined his opinions to the same con-
vention which Mr.. Roosevelt ad-
dressed.
AS Mr.. Roosevelt's train passed
through Ohio, people gathered at
every station at which stop was
made.
Rev. DR.. washington GLADDEN. of the
First Congregational church. an old
friend of the former president, met
him ct the station. Mr.. Roosevelt
went directly to Dr. Gladden's home
for short rest before proceeding to
7 the state house, where he made his ad-
diess. q. Il. .s5L B ..Bss s. iss
After finishing his speech Mr.. Roose.
welt returned TO DR.. Eladden's hons
for luncheon, to remain there until his
departure for New York at o'clock
ON his way from Columbus to New
York this evening, Col. Roosevelt will
make ten minutes stop in Cleveland,
and address crowd that is expected
to gather to greet him.
Col. RooseveIt's Talk.
big business" the fitness Of the
American people for self government,
the recall of judges and praise for the
progressive legislation in Wisconsin,
instituted and furthered by Robert M.
LaFollette when he was governor,
were topics discussed by Theodore
Roosevelt in an address today before
the Ohio constitutional convention
here Colonel Roosevelt chose as his
subject, "a Charter Of Democracy"
OF what he termed "big business, :
Colonel Roosevelt had this to say:
"The antitrust law does good
insofar as It can be Invoked
AGAINST combinations which really
are monopolies or which restrict
production or which artIflcially
raise prices. But insofar az its
workings are uncertain or as It
threatens corporations which have
not been guilty of anti-social con-
duct It does harm. There should
be fixed governmental policy
which shall clearly define and
punish wrong-doIng and give in
advance full information to any
man as to just what he can and
lust what he cannot legally and
properly do
AS to the fitness of the American
people for self government, Colonel
Roosevelt said:
"Many eminent lawyers believe
that the American people are not
fitted for popular government, and
that II is necessary to keep the
judiciary independent Of the ma :
iority OF the people, take alb
eolute issue with all those who
hold such a position"
or the recall of judges, he said:
"The question Is one Of expe-
dlency merely. Each community Z
mas the right to try Sthe expert
r,ent for itself In whatever shape
Il pIeases. ! do not believe In
adopting the recall save as a last
resort when It has become clearly
evident that no other course will
achieve the desired result"
Senator LaFollette was mentioned
but once, as follows:
"FolIowing Senator LaFollette
number Of practical workers and
thinkers in Wisconsin have turned
that state into an experimental
laboratory Of wise governmental
action In aid Of social and In
dustrlal justice. They have inIti-
ated that kind Of progressive gov
ernment which means not only the
preservation Of true democracy,
but the extension Of the principle
Of true democracy into Industrial
Ism as we'll as Into politics"
Summarizes Political Views.
Summarizing his political views, Mr.
Roosevelt said:
I'm the tt;;-st place, believe in the
short ballot. You cannot get good serv
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