Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-18
Sees Danger in the At
tacks That Mark the
Present Campaign.
PEOPLE ARE RULERS
Wrong to Raise Doubt in Minds
They Are Not-PreSident Is
for Preferential Primary.

Boston, March 1S.-President Taft |
reached Boston at this morning on /
q two days visit in Massachusetts and |
New Hampshire. The program for the |
presidents entertainment here includ- |
ed an address 10 the Massachusetts |
legislature, an informal luncheon with |
the Pilgrim Publicity club and re-
view OF the St Patricks day parade. |
Taft brought a green silk shamrock
with him and wore it proudly in the
lapel of his coat.
NOT AFRAID OF PRIMARY.
Before the general court Of Massar
chusetts, President Taft today made
his first personal reply to the chal-
lence for preferential primaries issued
by the Roosevelt forces. The presi-
dent said:
wherever full. fair notice of cleo
ton can be given. wherever adequate
safeguards can be thrown around TO
protect a preferential primary for the
presidency. wherever the constitution
OF the state permits it's being made
applicable to the present election, l
favor It and welcome it."
SEES MENACE IN ASSAULTS.
The president made a rather pointed
reference to the proposition "let the
people rule" and had something TO
say about the recall of the judiciary
and the recall of judicial decisions.
irresponsible assaults upon either
IN intemperate language, or on base
less assumptieRs--ef- --corrHpt tiosf5--- Or
bias. or incompetency, made by those
whose statements have influence with
any part Of our people. are a serious
menace TO an enduring government"
said the president
HISTORY AGAINST ASSERTION.
In spite Of all the machine poll
tics. in spite of every defect in the
operation or our government that
can be pointed out. ] do not hesitate
10 say that the history Of the last
135 years shows that the people have
ruled" continued the president.
''They may have been defeated at
times. by corrupt and corrupting in
fuences, congresses and legislatures
may have been halted by subterran-
can methods in carrying out what
the people desire, but in the end, un-
der our present constitution and our
present laws. we have had a really
popular government.
CAN BE MADE BETTER.
81 don't moan to say that We can
not make II better. l don't mean to
say that we may not remove some OBJ
stacles by which corruption or ma
chine methods may be minimiZed, but
what ! do say is that the cry that
the people do not rule and are not In
control. OF an intimation 10 that ef
feet, does not do justice TO the Amer.
ican people or their history and holds
us up TO the world at large in light
which does not do US justice. Ger
tainly. there is nothing in the growtf
OF this country from the adoption o.
the constitution until now, or with
IN the last 20 or 80 years, that jus
titles any attack upon our structure
os government or sapping of th'
foundations that have stood so firm
ly and upon which our whole popu
lar civilization has been reared.
THRUST AT INDEPENDENCE.
THE occasion for these remarks
the attack upon our judiciary ant
the proposal by judicial recall, or re
call OF judicial decisions, to destro
ats independence and thus to TAX
away from the arch OF government
the keystone. ] deny that there
in the decisions of the courts OF tn
character of the judges or the resul
of litigation, that which justifies sue
radical innovation. I am not un
mindful OF the necessity for judicia
reform, but that depends not upo
changing the character OF the judge
but upon the change OF procedure
the expedition OF judgments and tn
reduction of the expense OF litigs
tion.
zone can easily discover a ter
dency in modern politics to exal
above the written law and above tn
written constitution what is calle
popular win.' as II tlat were a highe
law 10 which we must all admit a
legiance by obeying IL and ignore G
transgress statutory and constitution
al limitations.
INSIDIOUs PROPOSAL.
This history is not stated exactl
IN the form OF an assertion thI
Judges and others are to ignore sta
utSs and constitutions because OF
ooufteting popular will. but it is
tue more insidious proposition thi
plain construction OF the statute c
Of the constitution is TO be defeate