Evening star., 1912-06-18
SUMMONS TO FRAY
Roosevelt Urges His Followers
to Fight for His Cause.
Is GREETED UPROARIOUSLY
Speaks to Thousands in Chicago
Auditorium.
IS GREETED UPROARIOUSLY
ATTACKS CONTEST DECISIONS

CHICAGO. June 1S.-Cproarious enthu-
siasm greeted Col. Roosevelt when he ad-
dressed a throng that filled the audito-
rum last night In defense OF the course
he has pursued in seeking the presiden-
tial nomination. Long before Col Roose-
welt reached the auditorium every seat
was taken. Outside the building were
thousands who were unable to gain ad-
mission. Two hundred policemen held
them back
Senator Borah made a speech while the
crowd was waiting for Col. Roosevelt.
His remarks were brought to an end
when the people leaped to their feet with
yell. The colonel had come
1t was nearly four minutes later when
the uproarious welcome subsided. The
colonel stood on the platform, waved his
hands and smiled
The crowd was wild and eager to cheer
Col. Roosevelt was constantly interrupted
in his speech with storms of applause.
Departs From Prepared Speech.
He frequently departed from his pre-
pared speech for an extemporaneous
thrust. which brought the people to their
feet. shouting and waving the flags
which were handed to each person on
entering the hall.
Col Roosevelt disclosed the line of at
tack which he will make.
He said that the delegates whose Sc
lection he contests must not vote in the
organization Of the convention or upon
the settlement Of the contest, and made it
clear that he would resist.
He declared that no action of the con-
vention based upon the votes of those
.fraudulenty seated delegates would be
binding upon the republican party.
IF they ask for the sword he shouted
they shall have 1t.
Declares Moral Issue Involved.
II address you as my fellow-republi-
cans" said Col. Roosevelt at the be-
ginning of his speech, but l also, and
primarily. address you as fellow-Ameri-
cans, fellow-citizens, for this has now
become much more than an ordinary par
ty fight The issue is both simpler ana
larger than that involved in the person
ality Of any man, or than that lnVoiVeo IA
any factional or in any ordinary party
contest.
LAS far as Mr.. Taft and l are person
allv concerned, 1t little matters what the
fate of either may be But, with Mr
Taft's acquiescence, or by his direction.
and in his interest. his followers have
raised an issue which is all important to
this country. 1t is not a partisan issue
II is more than political issue. 1t is a
great moral issue. If we cOndone politt-
cal theft, If we do not resent the kinds
of wrong and injustice that injuriously
affect the whole nation. not merely our
democratic form of government, but our
civilization itself. cannot endure.
The actions OF the Taft leaders in the
national committee, taken with the ac-
tive aid of Mr.. Taft's private secretary
and OF one of Mr.. Taft's cabinet officers.
are monstrous. and they should be indig-
nantly condemned by the moral sentl-
ment of the whole country"
Deliberate Dishonesty Charged.
Col. Roosevelt discussed in detail the
contests from the several states. and con-
tinued:
The majority Of the national COM
mittee have acted with deliberate dis
honesty; majority composed nearly hair
Of politicians from territories and states
that never cast republican eiectoIdi
vote, and nearly half politicians VINO
have just been repudiated at open PIT
maries by the people of their Own wi, s,a,es, 81 ,h
has stolen from the rank and file OF the
republicans from sixty to efghty law
fully elected delegates. has substituted tor
them an equal number of fraudulent oeie-
gates. not elected by the people. ana "a
the people by placing these fraudulent
delegates on the temporary roll cali Oh
the national convention with the nope OF
thereby controlling 1t in the interest OF
the candidate and OF the bosses, whom
the people have just now emphaticaliy re-
pudiated.
This attempt to bind the convention
by an act Of deliberate dishonesty, this
attempt to defraud of their rights the
plain citizens of the republican party, by
the bosses whom that party has just re-
pudiated. brings In question certain ele-
mentary principles which lie at the foun,
datton not only OF PARTY procedure and
party organization. but of free govern
ment and social order
IF these methods were allowed to pre-
vail the republican party would come
to an end; for ii would cease to be the
party of the people IT would pass under
the control of an olgarchy of the repre-
sentatives of privilege. and no method OF
overthrowing that control would remain
available to the people. If this action by
ths major1ty OF the national committee is