New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-11
STATE CONVENTION
SUPPORTS Mr.. TAFT
Continued from first page

Continued from first page
gates and the galleries. but there hau
been no great indication OF enthusiasm,
Young JIM Wadsworth S personal
popularity assured him good nearing
and considerable applause when ne
o,o aooirst the invaders Of repre-
sentative government.
Wakes Up tho Audience
The audience. however dion 'e'"'
wake m until Mr.. Prendergast was rec
opnized bv DR.. Butler and went 10 'ne
,latform Ho had hardly declared II his
dutv n dissent from some Of the plat
form statements and the speeches. maue
uhen there came burst OF applause
from, the gallery and some hooting from
delegates.
Quiet in the gallery. yelled dele
gate. interrupting the speech.
The people sometimes sit In me gal
lcrv." interposed Mr.. Prendergast' ad-
dressing the protestant. sometimes
they are represented there more than on
the floor" and this brought hisses from
many delegates.
The people elect the delegates"
shouted a gallery enthusiast, At which
there vas more handclapping and hiss
ing.
I'm not in favor Of the denomination
Of Mr. Taft" went on the Roosevelt
spokesman.
Neither is Illinois, came n response
from the rear Of the convention hall
Illinois is all right" assented Mr.
Prendergast
Well. you'd better go there directed
Taft delegate, and the laughter, cheers
and catcalls which followed forced DR..
Butler to use his gavel in an effort to
restore order.
Says Socialism Is No Boee.
A belief in the initiative, the referendum
and the recall. the Controller insisted, di1
not make an individual an agitator or 4
socialist. II did not seem to him suffciant
grounds on which TO read anybody out O.
the Republican party. Moreover. socialism
in these days. he said. was not a boyle
with which 10 scare people. He cited the
growth OF socialistic doctrine and socialistic
practice in the German Empire and Great
Britain. II was not so very many years
ago In Great Britain. he said. when in
Parliament opposition was made TO pro-
posals 10 stop Harvesting women TO wagons
in the coal pits as an invasion OF property
rights. Yet in the present coal strike there,
he reminded the delegates. the government
itself introduced a bill for a minimum wage
scale. lie added.
We live in a different age now. an age
those rights are resi- ected under the laws
or respect for them is enforced.
Socialism has only made headway In
this country because the two great parties
have been unrespons!ve 10 economic de-
mands by the people They want some
thing 70 look forward 10 from one or the
other Of the great parties.
The Republican party. Mr.. Prendergast
insisted. was not taking the right course
in attempting 10 stun its ears so It wouldn't
hear fair criticism. and blind It's eyes 80
II
all. It was denying the men OF its own
faith. who tried. with human fallibility,
perhaps. but still with sincerity and hon
esty Of purpose, 10 better conditions. lie
exclaimed:
We want remedies. not rhetoric. md II
there are some men who offer remedies
don't turn your backs on them, even In
conservative New York. Is criticism a
crime? II seems TO me only from that can
come a knowledge Of what all elements IN
the party are thinking, and so real progress
develop.
Taking up the arguments 81 Mr. Wads-
worth against direct legislation and the
recall. Mr. Prendergast illustrated the
workings OF Congress. with special rules
limiting debate on tarlfr bills
Wins an "Amen!"
But let's come nearer home" he con
tinued We've got our own Legislature -
God bless IT," and fervent Amen" from
the gallery conyulsed the assembage. He
described tho end Of a session. with the
Rules Committee in charge. releasing such
bills as II chose and sitting on the others,
and the quick rollcall system.
II SEQ Ray Smith blushinE said Mr..
the Assembly. and he knows how that
system works. And that is representa-
tive government, as We have IT," he added.
The functions Of representative govern
ment have been circumscrlbed and limited
that's why representative government is
not popular just now And III tell you a
secret-in some cases they have been taken
away entirely by our courts. We are told
the courts interpret the laws, but / say
they actually make them sometimes
Mr.. PrenderGast discussed the Arizona
constitution, with its recall Of judges pro-
vision. President Tafts veto of the con-
stltution on that account. CALIFORNIA; sub
sequent adoption Of a recall provision. the
admission OF Arizona as a state minus the
recall feature of the constitution. and the
election OF a Legislature with Republican
and Democratic members alike pledged to
adopt a constitutional amendment for the
recall.
That's the way YOU stop this progress
sive doctrine" the Roosevelt delegate cx-
claimed, turning TO DR.. Butler and shak-
ing finger at state Chairman Barnes. In
my Judgment you can't re-elect President
Taft, for many reasons which you know
as well as ] do"
Howls OF derision resounded from all
sides, but didn't stop the speaker, who
continued:
The time has come for US 10 consider such
things, and VIC are told conventions arc de
Lucrative assemblies. This is "A nice little
family party. so let's talk things out right
here. The tariff plank in your platform
fails 10 make any allusion 10 the only orig
inaI policy the President has enuncia ted
reciprocity. Why this silence2 II you are
going to run on his record why don't YOU
stand by II? Why pick and choose and keep
this significant silence?
Chars for the President