Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-29
Angrily Denies He Said
President Taft Was Not
Progressive as Was De-
clared in Report.
DISCUSSES RECALL
IN BOSTON TALK
Explains New Proposition
for Limited Recall Of Ju-
dicial Decisions to Massa-
chusetts Legislature.

! CuuSeCCS Legislature.
Boston, Mass, Feb. 27-Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, angered by published
report that he had said President Taft
was not progressive, declared today
he would not be drawn into a person
al controversy with the administration
although he has declared his intention
Of making "a straight-out fight" for
the republican presidential nomina-
ton. ..r
The colonel said that in his political
conference yesterday during which he
was reported to have made the state
ment, President Taft's name had not
been mentioned and that his opinion
in regard to the administration has
not been asked of expressed.
Col. Roosevelt repeated his state.
ment that he had not taken his pres
ent position for personal reasons and
he made it clear that he did not pro
pose to make the issue in any sense
personal one.
Stands Pat on Columbus Speech.
Col. Roosevelt was asked to explain
the position he will maintain during
the campaign. In reply he issued the
following statement:
II could not more definitely state
my position on the great issues of the
day than I stated in my Columbus
speech and again yesterday before the
Massachusetts legislature. In addition
to calling attention to what I there
said on the subject of popular govern
ment, I also call particular attention
to to what I said at Columbus on
the business situation and the proper
attitude of the government toward
| business so as to insure conditions
that will make for prosperity Of the
business world and of all our people.
In my Ohio speech I dealt with en-.
phasis on the two great subjects of
immediate moment to our people, the
need of having real and not merely
nominal popular rule, and the need OF
securing prosperity for the business
man, the wage Garner and the farmer
alike. AS l then said, most emphati-
cally believe that it is necessary to
have an equitable division Of prosperity
but that it behooves us to keep in mind
that we cannot divide the prosperity
unless the prosperity is there to
divide, and that to secure the well be-
ing of the business world is emphati-
cally in the interest of every citizen
Of the United States"
RooseveIt's Third Term Position.
Colonel Roosevelts position in re.
gard to the third term was explain
led to a number of his callers yester-
day:
my position is perfectly simple" he
said. Il stated it as clearly as could
in 1904, and reiterated it in 1907. I
said I would not accept nomination
for a third term under any circum-
stances meaning, of course, third
consecutive term.
II could not have said less at the
time nor could have said more.
"Of course could not know then
whether or not there would be de-
mand for me to accept nomination at
some future time. And believing as
do, that the selection Of candidates for
the presidency rests entirely with the
people, could not say that no time
in my life would accept another nom
nation
RooseveIt's Boston Speech.
Because l believe in popular rule,
favor direct primaries, including
direct presid ential primaries, not only
for local but for state delegates"
This was Colonel Theodore Roose.
velt's declaration in speech before
the legislature here.
Concerning the recall of judicial de-
cisions affecting constitutional inter-
pretations, he said:
my position is, if the people know
enough to make the constitution, they
know enough in the last resort to In
terpret it,
I Colonel Roosevelt said there was
only one sovereignty, the sovereignty
of the people. He impressed upon the
legislators the fact that they were the
servants and not the masters of The
people. a..,
Il am not advocating the recall of
Judges" he continued. Il am advo-
eating q measure, which, If adopted,
will prevent the necessity of the re-
call of Judges. I am not advocating
the recall of the Judge, am advo-
eating the recall Of legalism to justice.
/ To What His Proposal Applies.
"My proposal applies only to the
legislative acts which the courts de-
clare unconstitutional. I refer spe-
officially to laws passed in the collec-
tive interests of the whole community,
passed by the legislative body, your
body here, in the exercise of the power
to promote the general welfare, in the
exercise of the police power which is
inherent in the legislature. If such a
law, duly dealing with the collective
interest of the community as a whole,
passed by the legislature and signed
| by the governor, is declared unconsti-
| tutional by the court. l ask that the
people be given the right, if they
choose to exercise that right, them
selves to pass final judgment upon the
proposition. 1t has been stated that
i tbis will c,,hct;t,,+o non,,lar yyhirn ,ha