Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-06

ters vitally affecting the peoples inter-
ests should not be treated at the polls
in the same way when occasion requires.
1t also says, 1T vas deliberate ana or
derby proceeding, fraught with no peril
to the State" Far from being perilous,
indeed, such a recall stands for safety
to the States highest interest Not one
word OF protest has been spoken against
the proceeding. even by the 1874, a97 voters
who opposed the amendment.
Now, l hope you will bear in mind that
this orderly proceeding to which the Mail
refers is the same constitutional method
which has been in force in this State for
many years, under which the people have
brought about changes in their constitu-
ton. ] also want to remind you that in
declaring the previous workmen's com
pensation act unconstitutional, Judge
Werner, who wrote the opinion, pointed
out the way In which the constitution
should be amended in order to make such
an act legal. The matter then passed
through the different stages OF legiSla-
tive sanction in two successive sessions
and was then submitted to the people. If
the Mail thinks that this is the orderly
method for recalling judicial decisions
then do not disagree with the Mail nor
with any Progressive who holds the same
view.
I want to ask you why, IL this method
of changing our constitution has worked
so beneficially in the case OF the work
mems compensation act, what justl.ica-
tion is there for any different method?
The Progressives must agree that when
any changes are to be effected In the con-
stitution they should be entered upon
with deliberatlon. Col. Roosevelt sub
scribes to that idea Now, what kind OF
deliberation must 1t be? Could there be
any better method of deliberation than to
insist that the measure should be acted
upon at two successive sessions of the
legislature and then submitted to the peo-
Pile? This Is exactly what we have been
doing in this State for years. 1t has been
AfH ndk
is there any necessity for changing this
practice? What better results can you
secure under any other method? This
method is one which has been tested by
experience. What human experience JUS
tifes the general plan of recalling judi
cial decisions which my Progressive
friends have been advocating?
l might discuss our troubles of 1912 and
the Republican convention of that year
at Chicago. All of this is a matter OF
history. Let u.s. however. compare the
organization of the Progressive Party in
1912 with the period that produced the
birth of the Republican Party. The Re-
publican Party was founded on the de-
mand for the abolition of human slavery
and the preservation of the Union. 1t
did not come into life simply as result
of a difference of opinion between a few
men on questions that We're not really
fundamental. The Republican Party Is
the constructive party. and will continue
to be the Constructive party. moved from
time to time by the necessities Of changed
conditions to advocate and put into effect
such progressive legislation as is needed
to meet the needs of the country. The
Republican party Is not a reactionary
party. Its history from the beginning up
to the present time indicates that II is
not. All of the most important legisla-
ton which has been enacted since the
Civil War was put through as result
of it's labors.
Upon what is the Progressive Party ac-
tuaily founded? The chagrin of many
Il % 1. .s, ,frx "a 70 nf
the Republican convention to nominate
Theodore Roosevelt l regard him just
as highly personally as any man in this
ROOM The large vote for him was cast
because of the sincere regard in which
a large portion of the people of this coun-
try held him, and the additional fact
that, whether right or wrong. the opin-
ion was prevalent that he had not had a
fair deal at Chicago. Everyone in this
room knows that II he should pass away
tomorrow hin party would die. He re-