The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-02-27
RAYNER VEHEMENT
IN SCORING IDEAS
OF COL. ROOSEVELT
Says Former President Aims
Death Blow at
kMt Courts.

With Colonel Roosevelt as subject,
Senator Rayner OF Maryland paid his
respects TO tho Sage of Sycamore Hill
in vehement speech in the Senate
today ..
Insisting he was not Influenced by
political considerations, Senator Rayner
said OF Roosegelt's recall of court de-
cisions: '..-
81 regard ii as the most dangerous
doctrine ever brought forward 10y any
one who has the slightest regard for
the stability of our Institutions, ar1
whose opinion is entitled to any weisht
or respect
III proposition OF this sort had been
advanced 10y an ordinary agitatOr or by
an anarchist no attention would be paid
to 1t, and It would involve no actual
danger to the republic: this, however.
is the utterance of a political leader
who is gifted with great power and
commands great popularity, and who
for seven years was President of tho
United States and is again a candidate.
"A great newspaper referred to the
coloneIs position as the 'craziest pro-
posaI that ever emanated from him.
self Or any other man. j have, how
ever, from time to time taken the lib
erty to submit to the Senate a number
of other proposals of the former Presi-
gard.
Hostile to Courts.
People who regard this merely as a
fiippant and impulsive utterance as a
candidate for public Office are making
hostile to the decisions of the courts
when they conficted with his own
views.
49, According to this proposition the at
tack upon our institutions must STOP
at the Supreme Court of the United
states. Why, L ask, at the Supreme
Court That court is the very uluural
that Mr. Roosevelt has mercilessly at.
tackled whenever it dared to disagree
with him in his Interpretation of the
law. Why not have complete anarchy
Why have only partial anarchy?
What Is the use of having any court.
at all? Mr. Roosevelt says the peopl'
made the Constitution, now let them IN
terpret it. This is the substance o
his argument. This is the new reveal
ton of which he is the prophet and tn,
Messiah.
There is a motive for all this, and
think l can tell you what it is. 1
~nrises from the fact that when Mr.
Roosevelt was President he was no
allowed to influence and control tn,
decisions of the courts, and they dc
clined to pass under the domination
of his arbitrary and imperious will.
MT. Roosevelt is a candidate 70
President of the United States Their
was no need of any persuasion what
ever to induce him to enter the field
He is willing TO come with his ow
crown and frame a constitution of hi
own in accordance with the charmin
and aluring platform that he has pro
mulgated. believe theIe are a larS
number of Mr.. Roosevel1s followers /
this country who would today favo
vestinG in him autocratic power.
Hoped Outbreaks Were Over.
mo progressive leader in this bod
that / know of has ever given expires
sion to such views az were presente
in the Colonel's speech. l had hope
that such outbreaks as this were owe
when Mr.. Roosevelt abdicated his plac
and started upon his restless and harm
less expedition to the jungles of Afric
to slaughter animals that PrOvidenC
had never created.
would 1t be possible, if he consents
to tender him to the new Republic O
China, in the event of defeat-and
am satisfied that, even if nominated
he will be easily defeated. When h
was President 1 was constantly be
guied and diverted by his political per
formances. l never retired at nigh
that l did not expect some politica
earthquake in the morning, and l neve
arose in the morning that did not loo
for some volcanic action at night.
''He is simply advocating MARTA
law. The best definition of martial la,
IL that 1t is no law at all.
Il am not exaggerating the situation
He is perfectly sincere and his motiV
is not corrupt one, but he is poSseSse
with a mad fancy that this is an excel
tive Government. that the powers {
the executive ought to override thos
Of the Legislative and judicial hranche
Of the public service. He would, in tn
pursuit of his own Unsuitable ambition
.'ossess degree of autocratic powt
That no President of the United State
has ever attained
Longworth Is Neutral.
Flying the flag of neutrality, Congress!
man Nicholas I.ongworth, son-in-law
Colonel Roosevelt and neighbor
President Taft out in Cincinnati. r.
turned to Washington today and asser
ed that he would take no part in til
preconvention fight over the Republica
Presidential nomination.
Il shall take no part in the electio
of delegates, nor shall be candida
for delegate myself" Mr.. Longwort
said. ''Son-in-law Nick" like Senate
ledge and other Republicans, is in q
embarrassing position: He Is friend
both to his distinguished father-in-la
and his distinguished neighbor, both
whom are now striving for the Repu
Iican nomination. AS the support
either would hurt the feelings of Il
other, Longworth says that he's goll
to be neutral
Kent for Roosevelt.
Congressman Kent Of California todd
hoped on the Roosevelt band wag,
o. in a telegram to Leo S. Robinson,
Alabama, saying:
The contest in the Republican par
between progress and reaction is fiji
one of principle and second of men. 7
leadership has shifted. While admiril
and approaching La Toilette. Roosev'
has vastly larger following in Ca
forna, and I shall gladly use what
fuence ] may have toward furthert
his candidacy