The Sauk Centre herald., 1912-05-09
CHAMPION OF
ROOSEVELT ON
PEOPLES RULE
Defends Proposal for Recall Of
Judicial Decisions.
POINTS OUT ITS WISDOM

Hon. Augustus M. Vessels Of the
Pennsylvania Bar Says: "The Con.
stitution Will Be Safely Guarded
by Mr.. Rooseveit"-The Forcefut
Expression Of the People, the Back.
bone Of the Nation.
Washington, D. c.. April 27.-Both
In its editorial columns and in those
devoted to news of national politics
the Philadelphia (Pa.) Public Ledger
has been one of the stoutest pro-Taft
organs. But its readers are not blind
ed by sophistry or abuse. as witness
the tremendous wave OF approval OF
Colonel Roosevelt and his principles
which marked the presidential prefer
ence primary in the Keystone state.
The Hon. Augustus M. Vessels.
distinguished member Of the Pennsyl-
vania bar, in q signed communicated
to the Public Ledger. in which he de-
clares Roosevelt's principles the
''Forceful expression OF the belief OF
the people" stands staunchly and con-
vincingly by Colonel Roosevelt's pro-
posal for the recall OF certain judicial
decisions.
Mr.. Vessels, after stating that he
has read in the newspaper in question
a series of articles on The American
Constitution and the New Radicalism,
asks 'the opportunity of pointing out
some very garing inconsistencies in
the Interpretation OF important prin-
ciples in those articles"
The learned student of New Rad
fcalism," as the Ledger calls Mr..
Roosevelt's proposed reform, goes on
to say:
'Tt seems to me that the point at
issue Is, Shall the people rule? Are
the American people capable OF pass
ing wise and careful judgment upon
those vital questions which affect the
people as whole and are at the root
of social and industrial Justice? 1t Is
perfectly true that the struggle now
going on between President Taft and
ex-President Roosevelt is one over
fundamental principles, and not test
of personal popularity or combat
for party chieftainship. In the first
paper on the American Constitution
and the New Radicalism your writer
says:
"'Americans have never yet acted
mt the polls without grave and intelli-
gent reflection beforehand upon the
probable consequences of their voting
They are not insensate dolts, and they
are not hysterical followers OF the
loudest shouter. They must know what
they are voting for and what they are
voting against
This seems a very fair and credit
able estimate of the civic intelligence
of the American people, and no sane
man can help but have full confidence
In the final judgment of people pos
sessing such ability Yet your writer,
speaking of the constitution and the
recall of judges and judicial decisions,
says:
How are the people who are not
lawyers to know what the law or the
constitution is? The judges have
made it a study of lifetime. How
is a mass-meeting to decide? Would
you honestly consider yourself CON-
petent to discuss them? Remember
ton, not merely noisy or perfunctory
assent to some proposition vociferous-
iy urged by a loud talker indulging in
platitudes; it is question as to what
shall be the law, what shall be the
rule of action binding all men. high or
low, rich or poor, without any differ
ence as to class or condition
'Is it not peculiar that the grave
and intelligent reflection beforehand
upon the probable consequences OF
their voting should disappear alto
gether when the people come to ex-
press their will and Judgment on
fundamental question vital to their
common good and justice. which per-
chance has been declared unconstitu-
tional by too strict Interpretation OF
the law? Is it not peculiar. notwith-
standing the fact that the constitu-
tion is the expressed, written will OF
the people, made by them, your writer
says they know nothing about the con-
stitution or the laws? Is this good
reasoning? Is this convincing logic?
Il maintain that the questions which
would ultimately come before the peo-
pie for judgment under the recall
would of necessity be of such impor-
tance that the people would know
their minds and would be perfectly
capable of rendering decision to the
best interest OF society. For, as ex-
Chief Justice Campbell Of Michigan
said, The greatest knowledge that we
have in this world Is the common
knowledge of the common people,
Your writer's high esteem of the Ca
liabilities OF the American people
seems to have considerably dwindied
when at the close of the first paper he
says, Come, hard-headed men, and tell
me would you let your clerks or your
workmen decide what you should do
on a question which you had studied
all your life and which they had never
considered?' | ask, are the people,
whose will is acknowledged to be the
supreme law of the land q here quote
Justice Bradley, speaking for the
United States Supreme court, The
power of the people is superior to all
legislatures and all courts and ex-
presses the will OF the ultimate SOW
ereignty of the whole country, ask,
are the people to be placed In . suk