The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-31
ROOSEVELT HOLDS TAFT
TO BLAME FOR LOR|MER
Also Makes Him Responsible for
Shortcomings Of the Rail-
way Rate Law.
HAS LINCOLN TO PROVE 1T
Colonel Gets the Best Reception Of His
Trip in Michigan-Will Be
Home Tonight.

DETnoir. Mich. March 30.--Col. Roose-
welt took to new line OF attack on the
national Administration to-day.
Speaking before a crowd which filed
the Light Guard Armory TO its capacity
of 5000 persons the former President
brought up the railroad rate bill which
tho present Congress passed and the
Lorimer case in support of his contention
that President Taft's way Of doing things
is wrong
II was Col. Roosevclt's last speech
of his Western trip. during which he has
stumped eight States.
His reception by the people OF Michigan
was perhaps the most cordial Of any he
has had on this trip. The Colonel was
delighted and beamed upon the crowds
which met him at the stations along the
line.
At some places It looked as though the
whole town had turned out.
In his speeches from the rear platform
the Colonel repeated his arguments in
favor Of direct Presidential primaries.
He told the people that II was a fair and
square kaeup Of the Roosevelt army on
the side OF Presidential primary and bis
opponents against It. "Gov. Osborn has
represented the people" he said. while
those who have stood against the Presi-
dentia primary have misrepresented
them.
The liveliest meeting Of the days trip
was at Ann Arbor. Several thousand
students from the University Of Michigan
we're on hand. and they shouted SO that
even the Colonels voice could not be
h. ,aIl,I n, thar, n, oiva
him a chance. So much of the time was
spent IN cheering that Mr.. Roosevelt
did not have time to say much.
After the night meeting here Col Roose-
velt started for the train. He expects
to 60 straight through to New York,
reaching home late tomorrow for a short
rest before starting on his Southern
trip.
The speech here tonight follows:
"1he one great bit of progressive legisla-
ton in the last Congress was the railroad
rate bill. As submitted for action by
the Administration this was a thoroughly
mischievous and improper measure. which
would have meant the undoing Of most
OF the work that had been done in the last
twenty years, for it legalized monopoly
without furnishing any additional safe
guard in the way Of control.
This was doing the exact reverse OF
what the progressives have always stood
for for we ave insisted upon the most
thoroughgoing and far reaching control
of monopoly where as a practical matter
it proves nwise or i'm ossible to break
i. up.
THE Administration plan was cham
pioned by Senator Aldrich and as put
through the committee unchanged.
It was reconstructed upon the floor OF
the Senate by the progressive Senators
ainst the violent opposition Of he re-
ac ionaries who chsmpioned the Admin
| istration.
But one of the essen tial features Of
the original Administration bill was left.
This was the p DIVISION for a mmerce
! court. As mat ter Of fact this Is the
only provision of the bill that in practice
has worked badly. 1t has tended in effect
to a large degree to nullify the expert
decisions of the Interstate Commerce
{ Commission. 1t represents retrogression
in that respect.
"lut the rest Of the bill for which the
progressive Senators alone are entitled
to the credit has represented a real and
great improvement One Of the essential
features of he progressive mendments
was to shift the burden OF proof as to the
Justice oil an increased rate from the
small shipper to the great railway com
pany and to give the Interstate Com
merce Go mission a much increased and
more directly effective control.
Il wish to call your attention to the
practice of the Presidents theory of
government of the people by what he
calls a representative part of the people.
Remember that Abraham Lincoln s state
,ment was that we needed a government
of thepeople. for the people. by the people,
is to have it q government by a repre-
sentative part of tho people.
In practice. as l have already said.
this has always meant government by a
thoroughly unrepresentative part OF the
people against the interest OF the whole
people; it means and can only mean
government Of the people. for the special
} "The immediate illustration OF this
fact is afforded by what the Senate COM
mittee has done in the Lorimer case.
The reactionary members OF both par
ties on the committee have stood by Mr.
Lormer and against the protest Of the
minority have recommended that he
be allowed to continue in his place. Dc
you think that the representatives who
, have acted III TINS way Tedliy represent
the people? 1 don't.
"Do you think that this specimen o;
} government Of the people by a repre-
sentative part of the people SO called -
that is really by misrepresentation part
of the people-represents an improve.
ment on government by the people:
don't.
, For instance, one Of the gentlemen
! who signed the report on behalf Of Mr.
/ Iorimer was Senator Dillingham; oi
/ Vermont. | do not for one moment
believe that IL the people Of Vermont
/ could vote on this issue they would vote
to retain Mr.. Lorimer in the Senate.
: do not for one moment believe that
, the people of Washington and South
Dakota would have voted for Mr.. .Lormer
| and yet their Senators. Messrs. Gamble
, and Jones, did.
, 1T seems to me that this Lorimer case
! 30 far from being an argument in favor
! of the Presidents position that we should
have government OF the people by a
, part OF the people is n strong argument
for more direct government by the
! people. a strong argument for the direc,
! election OF United States Senators by the
, people.
r 1--WE have also heard good deal of talk
: recently by our opponents. headed. | am
sor:y to say. by the President himself
against what they have called the i'm.
pulsive Judgment of the people,
"Npw of colrSe "A matter of fact in