New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-21

e'ep ever taken toward the solution OF
.he problem of the farm and the village
He says was taken by the country life
commission. appointed by me" This COM
mission was opposed with "venomous hos
unity by the foolish reactionaries of Con-
gress."
With regard TO business he saws: 1.-THE
progressive party is the only party which
mas put forth a rational and comprehen-
sive plan. We believe that the business
world must change from a competitive to
a cooperative basis"
Speaking Of trusts. Colonel Roosevelt
says that the reason they have grown TO
such enormous size Ia to be- found pri-
n,arily in the fact that we relied upon the
competitive principle and the absence of
governmental interference to solve the
problems of industry. Their growth is
specifically and precisely due to the prac-
tce OF the archaic doctrines advocated by
President Wilson under the pleasingly de-
lusive title of the New Freedom"
The dissolution OF the Standard OIL
Company has not produced the smallest
benefit, says Colonel Roosevelt, who de-
clares further that II has only resulted
In enormously increasing the already ex-
ceSsve profits Of a small number of per-
sons. He says that there is a very real
need for governmental action. but that 1t
should be action along a totally different
line. In this connection he recommends
an Industrial commission akin in its func-
lions to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Great fortunes, he says. are OF
limited benefit to the country. and for
that reason the Progressive party be-
lieves in a heavy and progressive inheri-
lance tax. municipalities should have
complete self-government as regard all
the affairs that are exclusively their own.
including the important matter OF taxa
ton. The article continues:
"Constitution Belongs to People"
1--WE hold that all the agencies Of gov
eminent belong TO the people. that the
Constitution is theirs and that the courts
are theirs. The people should exercise
their power. not TO overthrow either the
Constitution or the courts. but 10 over
throw those who would pervert them into
agents against the popular welfare.
I'VE hold, moreover with the utmost
emphasis. that the people themselves
should have the right TO decide for them
selves. after due elaboration, what laws
are TO be placed on the statute books ana
what constructions are to be placed upon
the constitutions, national and state. by
the courts SO far as concerns all laws lot
social and industrial Justice"
Colonel Roosevelt declares that the peo-
pie have the right to decide for them
selves whether or not they desire work
mans compensation law or a law limiting
the number OF hours of women In indus
try, or deciding whether in unheathy
bakeshops wage workers shall be EN-
ployed more than a certain time per day.
or assuming and exercising fun power
over the conduct Of corporations-the
mower which. ne says, was denied by the
court I'm the knight sugar case, but final
" secured TO the people in the decision
in the Northern securities case. every
one OF these laws. he says, has been de-
MED to the people again and again poth
by national and state judges In various
parts of the Union.
In summing up. ex-President Roosevelt
says:
"Our position is after all simple. we
believe that the government should con-
Germ itself chiefly with the matters that
are of most Importance to the average
man and the average woman. and that II
should be its special province 10 aid IN
making the conditions OF life easier for
these ordinary men and ordinary women
who compose the great BULK OF our pep
pie. To this end we believe the peop'e
should have direct control over their o""
governmental agencies. and that when the
control has been secured 1t should DO
used with resolution, but with sanity ana
self-restraint, in the effort TO make CON
ditions of life and labor a little easier
little fairer and better for the men anu
women of the nation"