Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-24
ROOSEVELT ON
ISSUES FOR 1912
announces Progressive Platform
in Ohio Speech
STILL FOR SQUARE DEAL
Colonel Advocates Recall Of Court De.
eisions and Judges BY Vote Of PEG.
pIe-Holds Human Rights Para
mount to Property Rights.

mount 20 properly Nl9ntS,
Recall" OF judicial decisions OF thf
state supreme courts by Referendum
vote OF the people government rcguls
ton Of big business even TO the e.
tent OF fixing prices IL necessary: dir
rect nominations, including delegates
TO national conventions the short bal
lot: direct legislation by means OF the
initiative and referendum. and in a
measure. the recall. including its pos.
sible application To judges. were advo.
Gated by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
In speech before the Ohio constitu.
tional convention in Columbus.
This utterance by the former prosi.
dent is what has been heralded as the
Progressive platform" on which the
fight will be wages by the friends OF
the coonel TO make him the Republi
can presidential nominee
No intimation was made by the
speaker as to his intention of accept
ing the nomination. the only express
sion tending in that direction being
this declaration. in connection with
the direct preferential primaries for
the selection OF national delegates:
Now as good citizens. We are all
Of us willing 10 acquiesce cheerfully in
nomination secured by the express
sion OF a majority OF the people, but
we do not like TO acquiesce in nomi.
nation secured by adroit political man.
agement in defeating the wish of the
majority Of the people"
"Flintlock legislation" big bust
ness" square deal" age long con
test waged against privilege" false
constitutionalism," false to the cause
Of the people. guilty of anti.social
conduct" crook in public life, and
other expressions with a Roosevel,ian
favor were generously sprinkled
through the advice of the former pres.
ident to the Democrats and Republi.
cans. progressive and conservative,
who are struggling to frame new
constitution for submission to the peo-
pie OF Ohio.
"A Charter Of Democracy" was the
title of Colonel Roosevelt's speech.
Throughout he quoted frequently from
Lincoln and cited actions of that
president as the basis OF his own pro-
posals for insnring a truly representa-.
tive government. government in
which human rights" shall be ''su.
preme over all other rights" In which
wealth shall be the servant. not the
master NJ the neople "
Recall" OF Court Decisions.
Chief as the means OF attaining this,
at least the proposal TO which Colonel
Roosevelt devoted by far the greater
part of his speech. and to which he
gave especial emphasis. is the refer.
endnm ~ judicial opinions by the
state supreme courts. He declared that
Lincoln secured what was practically
the recall OF the bred Scott decision, -
and said:
There il one kind OF recall In
which | very earnestly believe. and
the immediate adoption OF which
urge. When a Judge decides consii.
tutional question. when he decides
what the people as whole can or
cannot do. the people should have the
right to recall that decision II thee
think II wrong We should hold the
judiciary in all respect; but II Is both
absurd and degrading 10 make fetis !
Of a Judge or Of any ono else
MANY eminent LAYERS believe. and
sometimes assert. sbat the American
people are 20: fitted for popular gov.
ernmcni. ard thai a Is necessary IL
keep the judiciary independent OF the
majority or OF all the people.
take absolute issue with all those
who hold such a position. II
the American people are not 1T for
popular government. and II they should
OF right be the servants and not the
masters OF the men whom they them
selves put into Office. then Line DIN 5
work was wasted and the whole sys
TEN OF government upon which thi
great democratic republic rests is a
failure"
Again Colonel Roosevelt said:
Il believe in a pure democ racy
With Lincoln hold that this country.
with It's institutions. belongs to the
people who inhabit H.
or the recall OF judges themselves
the speaker said
The question is one OF cSpedienc,
merely Each community has the right
TO try the experiment for itself in
whatever shape il pleases do not
believe in adopting the recall save a
a last resort when :, has become
clearly evident that no other course
will achieve the desired result
At the same time he declared that
Il lis nonsense 10 say that impeach
ment meets the difiioulty."
Control Of Big Business"
Colonel Roosevelt declared for gov.
eminent regulation Of big business
and said: