The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1912-03-05
4 CHARACTER OF DEMOCRACY.

al Convention practically as it appear
ed in full in the The Outlook last week,
has since been the foremost subject Of
debate in the press and of discussion
among individuals. 1t is a healthy
political symptom that serious Consti-
tutional questions and bold proposals
for forward movement should thus
hold upon the whole people as they
have not for years past. Both the
dignified audience of delegates engaged
in the task of re-making a States fun
damental law, and the advocate Of
democratic ideals who at request set
forth principles to be followed in pro-
noting justice, alike regarded the oc-
casion as of far more than personal
or, in the temporary sense, political
Importance, The address was follow
ed by the hearers with the utmost in
tentness for an hour and a half, and 1t
was common remark that the many
women hearers We're quite as continu-
Gus in their attention as the men, des-
pite the theory that such topics as the
initiative and referendum are suppos-
eddy in non-feminine field, The fire.
auent interjection by Mr.. Roosevelt OF
colloquially phrased sentences which
emphasized and illustrated his points
made the address more puAgent and
less formal than If it had been merely
read. Thus he charged the delegates,
Don't you get SO fascinated with your
work that you think no one can i'm
prove on it," and when, apropos of
"flintlock legislation" he said that the
f1intlock was good gun in ll76, but
| this is 1912, he added, But even when
| the gun is good, if the man doesn't
know how to use it, | could beat him
over the head with stick An inter-
| jected phrase or two in the paragraphs
about the recall made it clearer to the
hearers that Mr.. Roosevelt's recall of
decisions" simply means that the peo-
pie who made the Constitution should
| in the last resort have the right to
say directly what they meant to do
through it; and that as to judges who
! place technical rules above justice or
| refuse to right injustice, there should
be some prompt, sure method of re-
form other than cumbrous impeach-
ment-preferably perhaps the Massa-
| chusetts plan of recall through the
Legislature, or, more drastic means
are needed, then whatever will best
serve And the hearers understood alb
solutely the unity of purpose in such
| rife-shot sentences as 81 am an en-
phatic believer in Constitutionalism,
Il believe in the short ballot" Il be-
lieve in direct nominations by the peo
pie" Il believe in pure Democracy;
and understood also that all were in
cluded in the sentence, Human right!
are supreme over all other rights.
Naturally, the address, while it was no
primarily written as a personal plat
FORM was taken as such, although l
did not treat of many National topic
on which Mr.. Roosevelt holds profound
: then and there would have been total,
out of place. The general belief tina
Mr.. Roosevelt was on the point o
( stating that his position as regard
the growing demand that he shall b
= his Larty's candidate for the Prasi
l dencv added zest and intentness to th
2 interest in his Columbus speech. S.
} also did the fact that it was mis- frs
: address on general public question
for over a year. His personal recti'
ton at Columbus was cordial in III
, Utmost degree; a crowd welcomed hir
: at the station; another great assem-
+ blage waited two hours in the grea
= rotunda outside the House of Repre-
3 septatives in hopes of a short adore S.
. and cheered him to the echo; else
2 wher1-at Cleveland and at smalle
Y places-the familiar scenes of enthus
iasm were, as on former Western trip:
e obviously hearty, spontaneous, and IN
f conventional. No one who talked wit
n either voters or politicians in Ohi
: could doubt for a moment he gen
h ureness or extent of the desire fo
n leadership that can hold together tn
t element of the party which wants
n put action against lethargy, huma
e justice against technical stolidity, til
b equal opportunity of every man agains
h special interests. What the country {
+ large thinks of the new grounds
Y far as there was new ground-in thi
d address The Outlook will report neA