New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-03
7. R. DRAWS LESSONS
FROM WEST VIRGINIA
Says Progressive Demand for
Corporate Regulation Has
Been Emphasized There.
ATTACKS NEW FREEDOM"
Colonel Also Pleads for Main.
tenance of Adequate Navy
at Moose Conference
at Newport.

Newport. r. l., July 2.-Baked clans
and battleships oratory. both patriotic
and political. and a drill OF naval appren-
tices were combined to-day in the Navy
Day programme Of the National Progress
sive conference.
Theodore Roosevelt delivered this morn
ing speech on The American Navy
which was a plea for the maintenance Of
adequate naval strength. He declared
that in international relations the only
safe course for the American people 10
pursue was to combine absolute courtesy
and justice toward other nations with
that preparedness for war which is the
only sure means Of averting war"
In his second address the colonel dis
cussed Progressive policies. quoted from
the party's platform of last year, and said
that this declaration Of principles would
be recognized I'm the future as one Of the
great trlumphs in American political his
tory.
The demand made In the first national
platform of the Progressive party for
regulation OF corporations and combina-
lions to Insure their doing justice TO
their rivals. 20 their customers and 10
their employees" has been emphasized.
Colonel Roosevelt declared In his second
speech. by what has occurred since cleo
ticn in the West Virginia bituminous coal
fields. He quoted from court decisions
and declared that he wished he could
make the men Of property understand
L., ge,bt AarigiOrg and EtlCn
conditions as in West Virginia he was
fighting against anarchy In favor OF law
and order and for property.
The utter fuulity Of the plan of ac-
ton. or rather non-action, advocated IN
both the Republican and Democratic plat
forms last year, and christened by Presl-
dent Wilson with magniloquent vagueness
the new freedom has been strikingly
shown by what has thus occurred In west
Virginia" Colonel Roosevelt declared
1.-The new freedom is nothing whatever
but the right of the strong to prey on
the weak, OF the big men to crush the
little men and TO shield their iniquty be-
meath the cry that they are exercising
freedom"
Dealing with the regulation OF corpora
tions and combinations and using the
West Virginia strike as the basis for his
arguments for the adoption OF Progressive
principles. Colonel Roosevelt said
What is needed is the thorough root
ing out OF the conditions which brought
about the dreadful state Of affairs in the
West Virginia bituminous fields. In that
region we see in actual operation the
overcompettive conditions to which the
advocates of the new freedom would have
us return under the impression that they
offer a panacea for all our ills.
"IInder the pressure of an unenhghtened
capitalistc opinion, the West Nirginlan
courts have rendered decisions-in strict
accordance with the principles Of the new
freedom which themselves serve as the
most striking object lessons OF the need OF
the widespread application of Progressive
principles. The West Virginia Legislature
did it's duty by passing laws requiring the
cash payment Of wages and prohibiting
persons and corporations engaged in min
ing and manufacture from selling any
merchandise or supplies from stores TO
their employees at greater percentage OF
profit than TO outsiders. These laws were
contested I'm the courts as unconstitutional.
las a whole the West Virginia court has
declared that they we're ineffective. as in
contravention OF the Constitution The
court explicitly states that contract for
labor is property, thereby putting the life
blood of men, women and children on
level with the commodities they produce.
Literally and exactly this decision stands
on a par with one which In the name of
freedom should guarantee the laborer the
right to sell himself into slavery Finally,
when the result was an outburst Of wild
violence, so that there practically re-
NAMED no law, no constitution, no court.
the authorities were forced to grapple
with the actual need OF things by insu-
tuting martial law"
Other speakers were ex-senator A. j.
Beveridge Joseph Walker, OF Massachu-
setts: B. F. Fridge, Progressive National
Committeeman from Mississippi; Mrs.
Maud Howe Elliott, Of Newport; the Rev.
Or. George l.. Perrin, OF Boston, and r.
Wallace Peckham, OF Rhode Island.