The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-18
PEOPLES FIGHT
Continued from Fi-s, Pags.)

NSolNAhnga AEOm ELEuE R2Ra
National Committeel" he exclaimed.
Who are they? About fifty people
with the ratio OF honesty ranging
from about fourteen TO twenty, and
the remainder Of them sure-thing
mem"
Colonel Roosevelt began to call
the roll of some OF his most promi-
rent opponents. At the first he men
toned a groan came from the crowd.
With the next name the groan be-
came a roar.
To preserve peace the Colonel gave
up his roll call.
When Colonel Roosevelt said that
an action OF the convention, ~
brought about by the votes Of the
delegates fraudulentH seated. would
not be binding upon the party. there
came the widest outburst OF applause
OF the evening.
In his speech, Roosevelt said:
Il address you az my fellow Repub-
Hcans, but I also and primarily ad.
dress you as fellow Americans. fellow
citizens, for this has now become
! much more than an ordinary party
fight The issue Is both simpler and
larger than that involved in the per
s~onality OF any man. or than that in
VOWED In any fractional or in any ordi-
nary party contest We are standing
for the great fundamental rights upon
which all successful free government
must be based. We are standing for
elementary decency in politics. We
are fighting for honesty against naked
robbery; and where robbery is con
cerned the all-important question Is
not the identity Of the man robbed.
but the crime itself.
As far as Mr.. Taft and ! are per.
sOnally concerned. 10 little matters
what the fate OF either may be. But
with Mr. Taft's acquiescence or by
his direction. and IN his interest. his
followers have raised an issue which
is all important 20 this country. II
Is not a partisan issue. u H. more
than a political issue. a. Is a great
moral issue. n we condone political
theft. n We do not resent the kinds
% wrong and injustice that injurious
ly affect the whole MARION. not merely
our democratic form Of government
but orr civilization itself can endure.
n the methods adopted by the ma.
on committees are approved by the
convention which is about 10 assemble
d great crime will have been com
mitted The triumph 81 such pro.
ceedinRH az the moment would mean
The wreck ~ fhe Republican party:
and n such proceedings become habit.
nal. u would lean the wreck Of popu-
lar government Tho actions u tho
Ian leaders in tho national commit.
tee. taken with tho active aid Of Mr.
Tafts private secretary and of ono
N Mr. Taf'a cabinet oHlcera. arc
monstrous. and they should DO indig
uantIy condemned bv the moral aenf-
menf ~ he whole country. Tonight
We come together % protect against
q crime which strikes straight az the
heart ~ every principle OF poIiH lca1
d'cency and honesty. n crime which
rfpfeHeuts treason 10 tha people and
nc u~aurpatlon ~ the sovereignty ~
Ite people By irresponsible political
bosses. Inspired BY me sinister IN
huencnH ~ m0neyed privilege We
here IN this hail are engaged o only
IN n hght Tor he rights OF every de-
cent Republican. We are eneaged In
q hrhf Tor The riEhia % every decent
american whaiaoevcr his party may
hn And Oh. my friends for ono
hing ~ least We should bo profound
W grateful We are more fortunate
man our fathers On that there r. no
sIightest tlnge o. secuonaiism IN the
hEhf We ere row waRinF The prin.
ciples Tor which We stand are ns vital
Tor Tho south as for Tho north. n
no east aa for me west. We make
our appeal 20 au honest. far sighted
and patriotic Americans. no matter
where they may dwell
VII Ne nntsrsd Firht
in Frnrunrr Last made M
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