The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-03-21
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SAYS I; ! !. !! | D. / VI |
Opposes Presidents Attitude on
4. Popular Government. =
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Peoples MUST PREVAIL.

4 stands squsrsly on His coluyrbus
4 CO... Addrsss. ~ 81. : !:
New York. March 21.-Iast night in
lOarnegie hall Colonel Roosevelt deliv.
'ered forceful campaign speech. 1t is
In part az follows: h. Re-. r.sn... ~. . ~
The great fundamental issue now; be-
fore the Republican party and before
our, people can be stated briefly. 1t is,
are the American people fit to govern
themselves, to rule themselves, to con
troll themselves? believe they. are.
My opponents do not. believe 1lf the
right OF the people to rule. believe
That the majority OF the plain people OF
the United States will, day In and day
out, make fewer mistakes IN govern
Ing themselves than any smaller class
or body of men, no matter.what their
training, will make In trying to govern
them. believe. again. that the Amer
lean people are, as a whole, capable Of
self control and OF learning by their
mistakes. ... ~
u Tyranny Of Minorities.
. have scant patience with, this talk
of the tyranny Of the majority. When
ever there is tyranny Of the majority
shall protest against it with all my
heart and soul. But we are today suf-
fering from the tyranny Of minoylties.
1t Is small minority that is grab bing
our coal deposits. our water powers
and our harbor fronts. A small minor
tty is fattentng on the sale Of adulter-
ed a nd RI, p n, n
minority that lies behind monopoies
and trusts. It is a small minority that
stands behind the present law Of mas
ter and servant, the sweatshops and
the whole calendar Of social and in
dushfal injustice. 1t Is small minor
lty that ts today using our convention
system to defeat the will of majority
OF the people in the choice of delegates
TO the Chicago convention.
IT the majority of the American PEG.
pie We're In fact tyrnnnous over the
minority, If democracy had no greater
self control than empire. then indeed
no written words which our forefa-
theirs put tnto-the constitution could
stay that tyranny.
No sane man who has been familiar
with the government of this country
for the last twenty years will COM
plain that we have hadItoo much of
the rule Of the majority. The trouble
has been far different one-that, at
many times and in many localities,
there have held public office in the
states and in the nation men who
have In fact served not the whole peo-
pie. but some special class or special
interest. I am not thinking only of
those special interests which by gross
er methods. by bribery and crime,
have stolen from the people. am
thinking as much Of their respecta BILE
allies and tigureheads, who have ruled
and legislated and decided as If in
some way the vested rights Of priv.
lege had first mortgage on the whole
United States, while the rights Of all the
people were merely an unsecured debt.
Am overstating the case? Have our
political leaders always or generally
recognized their duty to the people as
anything more than a duty to dispense
the mob, see that the ashes are taken
away and distribute patronage? Have
our leaders always or generally work
ed for the benefit Of human beings, to
increase the prosperity Of all the peo-
pie, to give to each some opportunity
Of living decently and bringing up his
children well? The questions need no
answer. .~
Now "Checks and Balances"
Now there has sprung up a feeling
deep in the hearts Of the people, not Of
the bosses and professional politicians,
not Of the benehciaries Of special priv
|lege-a pervading belief Of Thinking
tnen that when the majority Of the poo
pie do In fact as we'll as theory rule
then the servants of the peopleswill
not the commands Of the special inter
ests, but those Of the whole people. To
reach toward that end the progressives
Of the RepubtEan party in certain
states have formulated certain propos-
ais for change in the form Of the state
government-Acertain new CHECKS and
balances" which may check and bal
ance the special interests and their al.
lies. That Is their purpose. Now turn
JOE moment 10 their proposed meth
DDS. - -----~------ =-----.-----
First there are the Initiative and
referendum" which are so framed that
II the legislatures obey the command
Ut some special interestSsnd obstinately
refuse the will Of the majority the ma
]ority may step in and legislate direct
~. No man would say that 1t was best
10 conduct all legislation by direct vote
! nj the neople=-it would mean the loss
Vt deliberatiop, Of patient consideration
but, on the other hand, no one whose
mental arteries have not long since
hardened can doubt that the proposed
changes are needed when the legisla-
lures refuse to carry out the will Of
the people. The proposal is a method