The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1912-03-01
Rayner Flags T. RS Speech.

Rayner Flays T. RS Speech.
Washington, Feb. 2S-Reversal of
judicial decisions by popular vote, as
proposed by eX-President Roosevelt
in his Columbus address last week,
vas denounced in the senate today by
Senator Rayner of Maryland as the
most dangerous doctrine ever brought
forward by anyone who has the slight
est regard for the stability Of our in
situations and whose opinion is EMIT
led to any weight or respect"
Senator Rayner declared that in
discussing the eX-president, who again
is a candidate for the republican nom
nation for president, he did not speak
as a partisan, because he believed the
republicans could nominate no man
who would be easier to defeat.
"In this address of the eX-presi-
dent" said the senator, there are
number of suggestions, such as the
election of senators by the people and
primary elections for the nomination
of political candidates, with which
entirely agree. What | desire to call
attention to today is a unique and orr
ginal conception which he advanced
upon this occasion and which | quote
literally as follows
} THE decision of a state court on a
constitutional question should be sub
iect to revision by the people Of the
: state.
off any considerable number of
) people feel that the decision is in de-
: fiance of justice, they should be given
2 the right by petition to bring before
| the voters at some subsequent cleo.
: ton, special or otherwise, as might
I be decided, and after the fullest oppOr
, tunity for deliberation and debate, the
] question whether or not the judges
e Interpretation of the constitution is tC
be sustained If it is sustained vel
and good. If not, then the popular
verdict is to be accepted as final, the
Il decision is TO be treated as reversed
e and the construction of the constitu
o ton definitely decided-subject only
II to action by the supreme court of tn,
l. United States
s "Mr. President if a proposition o
:, this sort had been advanced by al
IS ordinary agitator or by an anarC1 5
n nc attention would be paid to it; tn
st people would understand that it wa
utterly meaningless, and it would in
y volve no actual danger to the reput
A. lie. We must realize, however, tina
IS this is the utterance of a politica
1t leader who occupies today as prom
s. nent place before the public as an
1t one in the country, who is gifted wit
y tremendous power, who command
C., great popularity, and who for seve
Re years occupied the position Of pres
lg dent of the United States and who
tie now 4 candidate again for the o
d. flee.
n Calls It Cray" Proposal.
II would ike to accept the apolOg
or that has been offered for him by on
lg of the leading papers of the countr
It. when it says:
te Eve shall pay Mr.. Roosevelt tn
IS compliment of stating that we do NJ
a think he believes a word of the MOI
ne sense he uttered in this speech
sit But | cannot do so. | would rat
ne err accept the criticism of anotht
ey great paper, which observes in it's e
tie itorial columns as follows; in cor
ad handing to the attention of ever
re body this salient feature of his a
at dress:
be I'VE beg leave to remark that
le. is the most astonishing and in Il
he view of healthy intelligence, the era
I'm est proposal that ever emanated cit
IN er from himself or from any 9th
tie statesman since the organization
tut our government by law
'rs II am inclined to think that h
Ter last criticism goes perhaps a lit
it'll too far when it says that it is &
ng craziest proposal that ever emanat
on from himself, because | have frC
ny time to time taken the liberty to 81
Of nit to the senate number OF 9th
de- proposals of the ex-president viii
The are equal to it in this regard
ent People who regard this merely
md a flippant and impulsiye utterance
4 candidate for public office who
trying TO attract public favor,
making a great mistake. In my ju,
ess ment, the eX-president has heen
all flecting over this proposition
the years and contrary to his usual c
'rts tom il is the result of profound stu
cial and investigation upon his part OF
rth- judicial history of the country.
or has always been hostile 10 the d.