The Penn's Grove record., 1912-02-23
PEOPLE SUPREME
SAYS ROOSEVELT
Ex-PRESiDENT DECLARES HUMAN
RIGHTS SHOULD COME BE-
FORE ALL OTHERS.
MAKES SPEECH AT COLUMBUS
Addresses Members Of Ohio Constitu-
tionaI Convention-Favor Big
Business Under Proper Con-
troi-AdVocates Direct
Nominations.

Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 21.-That hui
mar rights are supreme owe al
othe rights and that wealth should
be the servant, not the master, of the
people, was the keynote of an address
delivered today by ex-President Roose
welt before the members of the Ohio
constitutional convention in session
in this city. He declared that unless
government was truly representative
1t was not representative at all. Re
ferring to trusts he said that big bust
ness corporations should not be dis
couraged but that laws should be en-
acted by the government for their
strict supervision.
After acknowledging the honor &C
corded him in inviting him to address
the delegates, Mr.. Roosevelt said:
Country Belongs to People.
i believe in pure democracy. With
Lincoln, l hold that this country,
with its institutions, belongs to the
people who inhabit it. Whenever they
shall grow weary of the existing
government, they can exercise their
constitutional right of amending it.
We progressives believe that the peo-
pie have the right. the power, and the
duty to protect themselves and their
own welfare; that human rights are
supreme over all other rights; that
wealth should be the servant, not the
master IF fha naaD1@ w. l-Ns.-z
mat unless representative govern
ment does absolutely represent the
people 1t Is not representative govern
ment at all. We test the worth of
all men End all measures by asking
now they contribute to the welfare
OF the men, women and children of
whom this nation is composed. We
are engaged in one of the great bat
ties OF the age-long contest waged
against privilege on behalf of the
common welfare. We hold it a prime
duty OF the people to free our gov
eminent from the control of money
In politics. For this purpose we ad-
Vocate. not as ends in themselves. but
as weapons in the hands of the peo-
pie, all governmental devices which
will make the representatives of the
people more easily and certainly re-
sponsible to the peoples will. ..
/ am emphatically a believer In
constitutionalism, and because of this
fact | no less emphatically protest
against any theory that would make
of the Constitution a means of thwart-
ing instead of securing the absolute
right OF the people to rule themselves
and to provide for their own social
and Industrial well-being. All consti-
tatlons, those Of the states no less
than that of the nation, are designed
and must be interpreted and admin
istered, SO as to fit human rights.
Supreme Power in People.
i hold 1t to be the duty of every
pupilc servant, and of every man who
In public or private life holds a
position OF leadership in thought or
action. to endeavor honestly and fear
lessly to guide his fellow-country-
men to right decisions; but | emphat-
ically dissent from the view that if ia
either wise or necessary to try to de-
wise methods which under the Consti-
tuition will automatically prevent the
people from deciding for themselves
what governmental action they deem
Just n proper. Constitu-
tfon-makers should make it clear be-
yond shadow of doubt that the peonle
IN their legislative capacity have the
power to enact into law any measure
they deem necessary for the better
ment of social and Industrial condi-
tons.
Mr.. Roosevelt declared that in the
past too much attention had been
paid to the accumulation of prosperity
but that the future more attention
should be given to its proper distribu-
ton.
The only prosperity worth having"
he declared, Us that which affects the
mass of the people. l hold it to be
our duty to see that the wage-worker,
the small producer, the ordinary con.
sumer, shall get their fair share of the
benefit of business prosperity. But it
either is or ought to be evident to
every n that business has to pros.
per before anybody can get any bene-
fit from It. Therefore 1 hold that be
is the real progressive, that he is the
genuine champion of the people, who
endeavors to shape the policy alike of
the nation and of the several states
so as to encourage legitimate and
While the antitrust law was good
as far as it went, Mr.. Roosevelt de.
clared that by itself it could accom-.
plish but a trifing part of the gov.
eminent regulation that was neces.