The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-02-22
ROOSEVELT IN FAVOR OF
REFERENDUM AND RECALL
But He Would Apply Them
Only in Unusual Cases
Of Urgency.
TALKS TO DELEGATES
Tells Constitutional Conven-
ton Judgment of Whole
People Should Rule.

COLUMBUS. o., Feb. 21-"gts
Business" the fitness of the Ameri-
can people for self-government. the
recall of judges, and praise for
progressive legislation were topics
discussed by Theodore Roosevelt In
an address today before the Ohio
constitutional convention here. Col
onel Roosevelt chose as his subject,
"A Charter of Democracy
OF what he termed sBig Bust
ness" Colonel Roosevelt had this to
say:
The antitrust law does good IN
sofar as 1t can be invoked against
combinations which really are mo-
nopolies or which restrict production
or which artifcially raise prices.
But insofar as its workings are I'M
certain or as 1t threatens corpora
tions which have not been guilty of
anti-social conduct 1t does harm.
There should be fixed govern
mental policy which shall clearly
define and punish wrong doing and
give in advance full information to
any man as to Just what he can
and Just what he can not legally and
properly do"
As to the fitness OF the American
people for self-goyernment Colonial
Roosevelt said:
Many eminent lawyers believe
that the American people are not
fitted for popular government and
that it is necessary 70 keep the
judiciary Independent of the ma
jority of the people, l take abso-
Lutte issue with all those who hold
such position.
OF the recall of judges, he said:
THE question is one Of expedi-
ency merely. Each community has
the right to make the experiment
for itself in whatever shape It
pleases. do not believe in adopt
ing the recall save as last resort
when it has become clearly evident
that no other course will achieve
the desired result"
Colonel Roosevelt said In part:
Il hold 1t to be the duty Of every
public servant, and OF every man
who in public or private life holds
a position or leadership in thought
or action, to endeavor honestly ana
fearlessly to guide his fellow-coun-
tryynen to right decisions; but
emphatically dissent from the view
that 1t is either wise or necessary
to try to devise methods which un-
der the constitution viii automat-
ically prevent the people from de-
Gliding for themselves what govern
mental action they deem Just ana
proper. T.,5E
1T is impossible to invent constt-
tutionGl devices which will prevent
the popular will from being efrec-
tive for wrong without also prevent
ing 1t from being effective for right.
The only safe course to follow In
this great American democracy is to
provide for making the popular
Judgment really effective. ConstI-
tuition makers should make 1t clear
beyond shadow OF doubt that the
people in their legislative capacity
have the power to enact into law
any measure they deem necessary
for the betterment OF social and in
dustrial conditions.
y hold that he is the real pro-
gressive, that he is the genuine
champion of the people, who en-
beavers to shape the policy alike Of
the nation and of the several states
go as to encourage legitimate and
honest business at the same time
that he wars against ali crookedness
and injustice and unfalrness ana
tyranny in the business world. This
is the reason why have for so
many years insisted as regards our
national government, that 1t Is both
futile and mischievous to endeavor
to correct the evils of big business
by an attempt to restore business
conditions as they were in the mid
die of the last century, before rail-
ways and telegraphs had rendered
larger business organizations ootn
and desirable.
What is needed is, arst, the rec
ignition that modern business con-
ditions have come to stay, Insofar
at least as these conditions mean
that business must be done in larger
units. and then the eool-headed ana
resolute determination to Introduce
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