The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-02-13
ROOSEVELT TALKS
To PROGRESSIVES
Again Assails Idaho C0urt--For
Fusion on Own Grounds

New York, Feb. 13.-CoL Roosevelt
last night returned to the subject of
the decision of the Supreme Court Of
Idaho IN the election cases, and again
voiced the opinion that this decision
constituted "an even gravcr offcnse
against justice and deccncy. and an
even greater blot on the American
judiciary than the Dred Scott dccis-
ion itself" The court nc character
lied as the most potent instrument
IN this denial of Justice.
abraham Lincoln was no less
guilty than the three men whom the
Supreme Court of the state of Idaho
imprisoned for contempt because they
criticized. i'm less severe language
than Lincoln, Il decision as lndefensi-
bic from every standpoint of law and
justice and popular rights as the Dred
Scott decision itself"
Col Roosevelt spoke to Piogressivcs
at their Lincoln birthday banquet.
The first political uttcrancc he has
made i'm months, his address was per-
meated with passages from Lincoln's
writings and speeches. In Lincoln's
words. he replied to the critics of the
Progressive party, likcncd Republican
leaders 10 "lhe old conclusive silk
stocking whig-tory," which opposed
Lincoln before the civil war;" and de-
clared that the time had come for the
people TO act as the court of last re-
sort He said. in part
Miscarriage Of Justice.
AT this moment there has occurred
in Idaho decision by the highest
state court which, within its own
limits. is an even graver offonse
against justice ana decency and an
even greater blot ON the American
judiciary. than the Dred Scott decis
Zen itself. The rcactionary Supreme
Court of Idaho has played into the
hands Cf the Republican machine of
which il was itself q part, precisely
MS Justice Taney ana the majority of
the Supreme Court of the nation in
1867 played into the hands of Presi
dents Pierce ANA buchanan and the
reactionary organization of which he
aud they were parts.
I'm Idaho the result was as grave
a miscarriage of justice at the elec-
ton as had already occurred at the
nominating convention, and the court
became the most potent instrument
In this denial of justice. This decls-
ION I hold To have been an outrage
upon ihc people of Idaho. and not
merely upon them, hut upon the peo-
pIe of all the United states for any
Interference with the right of an
American in any state to cast his vote
and To have il counted for the presi-
dent of his choice is an offense
against the Americans of all the
states
II think the result of the vote
showed that IL we had been given
our clear and undoubted rights Ida
hos electoral vote would have been
I'm the Progressive column. The ac-
ton of the reactionary court, taken
in combination with the action of the
Republican machine. resulted in the
deprivation of tho right of the people
of Idaho to express their choice for
president
Lincoln's Criticism OF Court.
"Abraham Lincoln said that he be-
lleved the Dred Scott decision repre-
sented a conspiracy against liberty
between the then Supreme Court and
the leading officers of the reaction
ary party to which that Supreme
Court belonged. believe that with
even more justice Abraham Lincoln,
II alive today. would make the same
(Continued on Pace Five)