The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-06
People Must Act


 q am sure that ultimately our people must and will come to the view that the nation and the states within their sey- eral spheres, spheres which must cover every particle of the ground where 1t is possible for government to act at all, have not only the right but the duty to decide as wisdom and experience shall dictate as to all the conditions which shall obtain in tenement houses, in fac- tories, in mines, on railways, for pre- serving men, women and children in health, life and limb. If they so decide and are really bent upon having the de- cision reduced to practice the courts will sooner or later in one way or another be forced to give it effect It is idle to say that the people as a whole have not the right to decide for themselves on, such a matter of governmental pol icy. It is in no shape or way one of the few questions where the public serv- ants of the people have the right, and where it is their duty to go counter to these wishes of the people. l do not mean that there are no such cases. On the contrary l hold the judge or legisla- tor or executive may at times find that his highest duty to the people is to re- sist the will of the people If some ques- ton of real or vital principle, of right or wrong is at stake. But his useful ness in standing ruggedly for his own convictions in such cases where the moral Jaw is at stake will largely depend upon his not having refused to represent the popular will when the people have right to have their will respected.
 ''No public servant who Is worth his salt should hesitate to stand by his con science. and, if necessary, to surrender his office rather than to yield his con seiertious convictions in a case of gen. nine importance. But while that is his right and his duty our right and our duty is to see that he is responsible to us to the people, and I hold with Abraham Lincoln, that we are unfit to be called a free people if we permanently surrender the right to shape ourselves in their re- spectiye destinies and place this right ir the hands of any men not responsible tc us In closing one word. What l ad vocate is not revolution. 1t is not milo radicalism. It is the highest and better kind of conservatism
 The Colonel Is Silent
 Oyster Bay, N Y.. January 5.-Aftel a talk in New York with James K. Gar field, ex-secretary of the interior, and leader of the republican progresslVe' of sOhio, ex-President Roosevelt return ed to oyster Bay tonight.
 Colonel Roosevelt had just one thins to say It was that he had no inten- ton or leJlinS tue puDiic NhoW Ntih' i'' thinks about the selection of repub lican candidate for President. He de clared his intention of bottling himself up at Sagamore Hill and refusing to an swer any questions.
 Does that mean that your attitude will remain a riddle from now unti the republican convention is held?' he was asked
 Colonel Roosevelt refused to commit himself on that point. merely saying | that, as far ahead as he could see, ht would make no public expression oi his position.
 1 Mir Garheld's journey to New York at this time was regarded as signif. 1 icant because it followed so closely tn. convention of Ohio republican progres- sives. He was credited withf having taken a leading part in dissuading tht ptior from indorsing Senator La Toilette for the presidency. Neither Colonel Roosevelt nor Mir. Garfield would say word in regard to theil conferences. MT. Garfield succeeded il entering Colonel Roosevelts editoria office unseen and had been there fol some time before his presence wa. | known. He departed soon after anc later met Colonel Roosevelt at clut where they were able to talk in seclu- sion.
 Despite his arrangement. Colonel Rooseyelt's presence at the club be