Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-08-09
ROOSEVELT GIVES
PLAN OF BATTLE
Address of the Colonel Before the
Progressive Convention.
PRINCIPLES OF NEW PARTY
Leader Discusses Courts and the Peo-
pie, Control Of Trusts, Cost OF
Living, Tariff and Other
Great lssues.

Chicago, Aug. 6.-Theodore Roose-
welt today addressed the convention
of the National Progressive party,
sounding the keynote for his followers
and laying down the plan of battle to
be waged by the new party. He dis
oussed the principles Of that party
under these twelve subdivisions: The
Helplessness of the Old Parties; The
Right Of the People to Rule; The
Courts and the People; Constructive
Control of the Trusts; Rights of the
Wage-Worker; The Farmer; The Tar
if; The High Cost of Living; Cur
rency; Conservation; Alaska and In
ternationa Affairs
THE two old parties" he said, "are
husks, with no real soul within either,
divided on artificial lines, boss-ridden
and privilege controlled, each 1um-
BILE of incongruous elements, and neith-
er daring'to speak out wisely and fear
lessly what should be said on the vital
issues of the day." AS opposed to
this incongruity and insincerity OF
action he asserted that the National
Progressive platform will be "a con-
tract with the people, with definite
and concrete provision to be carried
out If the people ratify the contract
on election day as exactly and honest
ly "as II 1t were actually enforceable
under the law"
Old Parties Inadequate.
Following is summary of the colo
nel's speech:
Neither the Republican nor the DEM
ocratic platforms or managers show
any adequate recognition of the mighty
fact that we are now in the midst of
a great economic evolution" This ir-
resistible movement for economic
change and improvement must be
guided by both common sense and
the highest ethical standards" in or
der to prevent reasonable evolution
from becoming dangerous revolution.
The Democratic party, as is indicated
by It's present record in congress,
lacks the common sense, and the Re-
publican party, by its record OF stolen
delegates at the Chicago convention,
lacks the ethical standards.
If this country is really to go for
ward along path of social and eco
nomic Justice, there must be new
party of nationwide and non-sectional
principles, a party where the titular
national chiefs and the real state lead
ers shall be in genuine accord, party
in whose counsels the people shall be
supreme, a party that shall represent
in the nation and the several states
alike the same cause, the cause of hu-
man rights and of governmental eff
cheney. The reassertion Of the states
rights doctrine of the Democratic
party cripples and forecloses any real
or genuine relief to the people. 1t re-
duces their promises to hopeless and
empty phrases, The mission and spirit
of the Progressive movement will
thrill the Republic from end to end
Right Of the People to Rule.
"The actions of the Chicago conven-
ton, and to an only less degree of the
Baltimore convention, have shown in
striking fashion how little the people
do rule under our present conditions
In order to assure this popular rule
Mr.. Roosevelt urged the adoption OF
presidential primaries, popular cleo
tion of senators, the short ballot, eff
cient corrupt practices act, qualified
use of the initiative, referendum, and
recall. The recall should be applied
to administrative officers. Mr.. Roose
welt asserted that the adoption oi
these new methods OF political admin
istration is not antagonistic to repre-
sentative government. "All ! desire
to do by securing more direct contro
of the governmental agents and rep
resentatives of the people is to give
hn fn tbai,
representatives really represent then
whenever the government becomes
misrepresentation instead of represen
tative. / have not come to this wa,
of thinking from closet study or as
mere matter of theory. / have beer
forced to 1t by long experience will
the actual conditions of our politica
life"
The Courts and the People.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt
strongly emphasized the necessity o
the sovereign people preserving
check on every branch of public sery
ice. He reiterates his now well-knowi
views regarding the courts. "Th'
American people, and not the courts
are to determine their own fundamen
tai policies" This does not mean tina
the people are to interfere in case
which involve merely questions of jus
tice between individuals except tina
means should be devised for maxim
1t easier than at present to get rid @
an incompetent Judge" But when
judicial decision involves an interprt
tation of what the people mean by tn
constitutions which they have frame
and laws passed by the people ar
nullified because the courts say thos
laws are contrary to the peoples wi
as expressed in their constitution
there must be reference to the pc,
pie of the public effect of such deci,
ions under forms securing full delil
eration" to the end that the, peopl
NAV rectify this alleged defect I'm tbei