The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-09
THE BULL MOOSE ARRAY.

iHS VI " INNS lnHiig my Nhat tuc -i"vo
ers are tac only righteous. Christian sol
diers, supremely entitled to sing 1.-The
Battle Hymn of the Republic, the
Roosevelt subjects concluded their per
sonally conducted convention on We'd
uesdsv Roosevelt was himself the
supreme dictator of all: no one
dared to propose anything with.
out first seeing Roosevelt about it;
even the committee on credentials did
not dare either TO reject or admit the
negro delegates until they heard from
Roosevelt. But why there should have
been such committee does not appear,
since the delegates were for the most
part selfappoiuted. When the history
of boss-rdden political movements comes
TO be written up, this movement OF
Roosevelt s will be Untitled to the first
place as the supreme example above all
others of absolute subservience to a
boss
And now that the bull moose array
is completely made up, with Roosevelt
as the supreme dictator and Governor
Johnson as his chief lieutenant, taking
and transmitting orders, and A platform
which declares nothing special except
hostility TO the American constitution,
we have the complete bull moose array.
In the matter OF the constitution.
the platform Of the Roosevelt men is
the most unqualified declaration
against the constitution as it is that has
ever been voiced in this country since
the times Of slavery. when some of the
extreme abolutionists denounced the
constitution as "a covenant with death
and league with bell Accordingly,
the Progressivcs want TO have chance
to amend that constitution with ease
and expedition And vet the declaration
is so vague in its terms that no ono
can get from the expression as made
what it is that the Roosevelt subjects
so seriously object 20 in our Federal
constitution; but they leave the door
open wide so that any sort Of vaear-
ious fad can be sprung as a desirable
amendment
Beginning with the deuunciation of
stating what for, and declaring for the
rule Of the people without indicating
how the people are to rule any more
certainly hereafter than they have done
since the foundation of the Republic.
the platform proceeds at great length
with vague gcneralties that may mean
something or nothing. The platform
declares for ''effcctive National mris-
diction over those problems which have
expanded beyond reach Of the individ-
usl Ststcs;' but what are those prob.
lems7 Probably no two men even in
the Progressive party could agree as
to anything definite on this point un-
less Roosevelt himself should first lead
off, and then, of course, his subjects
would follow slavishly and blindly. But
he hasn t led off.
AS to the courts, the Roosevelt sub
iects demand a restriction of their pow
er, so that they shall not any more
form one Of the three independent
branches Of the Government; here being
perhaps point upon which amendment
to the u. S. Constitution is desired
The platform declares for better
administration of justice, aud in this
connection suggests a number Of things,
not one of which comes within the Ma.
tional scope, evory detail scheduled be
ing especially and particularly within
the jurisdiction Of the various States.
Country life. the high cost Of living.
and the question Of the public health
all receive Elusive and evasive treat
ment.
AS to business and trusts, there is
a proposition to govern business by
trust commission, which would afford
greater opportunities than ever here.
tofore known in this country for cor
rupt administration.
As to patents, the Progressives de.
clare for ga patent law which will
make II impossible for patents to be
suppressed or used against the public
welfare in the interests of injurious
monopoles:' - which is fair sample of
impossible twaddle. For If man takes
out patent ne is entitled to the pro-
lection or the law in the use or even
in the total suppression of that
patent. or his patent is of no value
TO him, II be chooses to manufacture
the article patented, it is his right to
do so; if be chooses to sell the patent
10 others. that is equally his right, and
it will remain for the courts under any
circumstances to declare as now whether
n patent is used against the public
welfare or Sin the interests of in
furious monopolies. This patent de-
claration is fair sample Of the mushy
style Of the whole platform, in making
loose declarations that have neither sub
stance in them nor possibility of prac-
tical application.
As to the currency. there is nothing
useful or instructive in that plank, aud
neither is there in the one for CONNER.
cial development.
In conservation there is a double dec
laration First. for the development
and generous use OF the natural re.
| sources OF the Nation; but this is at