The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-04-17
A SHORT POLITICAL CREED
Editorial by Theodore Roosevelt

| A good friend of mine who has
been asked many questions about the
political philosophy which | endeav-
ored to interpret and formulate in my
Columbus speech has put these ques-
| tons in the form of short cate
chism; and in answering them l have
endeavored to outline the philosophy.
What is the aim for which political
progressivcs are striving?
The promotion of genuine popular
government in America, the defense
of human rights, and the establish
ment of social and industrial justice,
so that every force in the community
may be directed towards securing for
the average man and average woman
a higher and better and fuller life in
the things of the body no less than
those of the mind and soul.
Do you believe that the pursuit of
this aim requires the adoption of new
and radical principles?
No. I believe it requires new and
radical application of the old princi-
pies of justice and common honesty,
which are as eternal as life itself.
New methods and new machinery are
needed for carrying these principles
into our national existence; and also
a broader sympathy, so that our JUS
tice may be generous and humane,
and not merely legalistic.
Do you believe in short ballot?
do. l consider it one of the most
important methods to be adopted. BY
the short ballot" l mean the princi-
Pile of electing few men to important
xI-.x. 4 tai. tv.,t
i've offices appointive. This is the
method that is pursued in our federal
government. The people have moth
ing whatever to fear from giving any
public servant power so long as they
retain their own power to hold him
accountable to them. You will get
best service where you elect only a
few men, each of whom has his def
mite duties and responsibilities, and is
obliged to work in the open so that
the people know who he is and what
he does
Do you believe in direct primaries?
| do. In the state the primary
should be of the simplest form (cop-
sistent with preventing fraud) that
will enable each individual voter to
act directly on the nomination of
elective officers; In the nation presi-
dental primaries should be so
framed that the voters may choose
their delegates to the national conven-
tons, and at the same time express
their preference for nominees for the
presidency. At the present moment
our political machines are using their
power to defraud the people out of
their right to make nominations.
DO you believe in the election OF
United States senators by the people?
! do. I think the people are just
as competent to elect United States
senators directly as they are to elect
governors or representa- tives in con-
gress or state legislatures.
Do you believe in the initiative or
referendum?
Yes, under certain definite limita
tions. Action by the initiative or
referendum ought not to be the nor
NAL way of legislation: I think the
Legislature should be given an entirely
free hand But / believe the people
should have the power to reverse or
supplement the work of the legisla-
ture. whenever it becomes necessary.
DO you believe in the recall?
] believe the people should be pro-
vided with the means of recalling or
I'M electing important elective admin
istrative officers, to be used only when
there is a widespread and genuine
public feeling for such a recall among
a majority of the voters. L believe
that there is scant necessity for using
e,l,
elective officers.
Do you believe i'm the recall of
Judges?
| believe that the evils which have
led to the very Widespread proposal
to apply the recall to judges are very
real. / see no reason why the people,
if they are competent to elect judges,
are not also competent to un-elect
them. 1 think the judiciary should
be made clearly TO understand that
they represent justice for the whole
people. Personally, and having in
view the success of the Massachusetts
system, l am at present inclined to
believe that Judges should be appoint
i've. Then we can apply the principle
of the recall to the appointive power.
i've judges removable; and, in feeling
our way to the proper solution, l
would try having this done by ma
jorty vote of the two houses of the
Legislature, as may now be done un-
der the Massachusetts law, whenever
the people through their representa-
tives feel that the needs of the people
require such removal. But this is
merely my preference; and. moreover,
my prime concern is with the end,
not the means. / wish to see good
judges put on the bench and bad ones
taken off it, Any system which in its
actual working accomplishes these
two ends is good system. / do not
wish to use the recall if 1t is possible
to avoid doing so; but l would far
rather have recourse to the recall than
continue the present system, which
provides an impeachment remedy that
in practice never works, and provides
no efficient way whatever for overrul-
ing judicial misconstruction of the
constitution.
Do You believe in the review of jul
diciai decisions by state courts, and
what do you mean by it?
! do. What / mean may be fully
expressed by the phrase, 1.-The right
of the people to review certain Judi