New-York tribune., 1912-03-12
REPLIES TO ROOSEVELT
Campbell Calls Attention to Re
call of Pilates Decision.
[From The TrIbnne Rureau. |

Washington, March lin an open letter
TO Colonel Roosevelt Representative Philip
=. Campbell a Kansas Republican. to-day
"came back" AT the colorel's criticism OF
Mr. Campbells recent Concord speech. In
this speech Mr.. Campbell asserted that the
Republican party Is not in favor of "sp-
pealng from the decision Of the umpire 10
the bleachcrs." and this brought the charge
from the colonel that the Kansan spoke for
the reactionary element in the party.
Mr.. Campbell in his reply refers TO the re-
call of judicial decisions advocated by the
ex-President as a most astounding propo-
sition." Mr.. Campbells letter follows:
March H. 1912
My dear Colonel:
You artfuly assume in your letter 10
Senator Dixon that ] was talking about
politics in the Concord speech when | said
the Republican party was not In favor OF
appealing from the decision Of the umpire
to the bleachers.
Every man who knows the old rule of the
prlZerng knew few days ago when you
said your hat was in the ring that you were
undressing for fight. The fans know that
an appeal from the umpire TO the beachers
would end the game.
Now, the fact is | was discussing your
astounding proposition to appeal from the
decision of the courts to the crowd In the
courthouse yard. and what | said. to which
you take exception, was in that connection.
Speaking of reactionaries, YOU Will agree
that James III was a reactionary, who re-
called judges he had appointed when they
did not write the kind of opinions he wanted
written. The progressive commons OF Eng
land made the judges independent OF recall
for declaring the law instead Of the Will
OF the power that made them judges.
Thomas Jefferson indicted George III in
our Declaration of Independence, and
charged:
"He has obstructed the administration Of
justice by refusing his assent TO laws for
establishing judiciary powers. He has made
Judges dependent on his VIII alone FOR the
tenure of their Offices"
But you refer cases to the people. Take
case A law is enacted by your initiative
and referendum fixing the price OF wheat
at 50 cents a bushel The wheat growers
appeal to the court. The court holds the
law unconstitutional An appeal under
your proposition is taken from the court
back TO those who enacted the law. The
wheat growers are in the majority. The
law is voted constitutional by the majority
Are you really In favor OF this revolution?
You have overlooked one of the most inn
portant cases ever tried: PLATE acquitted
the Christ. An appeal was taken from
Pilates decision TO the people, and the
Saviour was crucifed.
You sometimes refer to Lincoln. You will
recall that he said In the midst of great
war for the preservation OF this govern
ment that this was "a government of the
people, for the people and by the people" "
You will also recall that the instrumentali-
ties by which the people governed them
selves when Lincoln made that speech did
not include the initiative. referendum and
the recall. nor indeed the recall OF judicial
decisions.
Now does II look TO you. on reflection,
like rank reaction to go back to instr,I-
mentalities of government some of them
older than Roman civilization and that
brought bad rule and limitation OF years
rather than good rule and length OF days
N ad and
tised them? Very truly yours.
u. p CAMPREIT