The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-19
SENATOR ROOT URGES THE ELECTION OF
A LEADER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE
Would Give Seat Senate and Assembly Govnoravo Reforms
Judicial Procedure His Keynote Speech the Republican
Convention Saratoga

competent to lead in politics. in business
and In thought-have not as rule been
members OF State Legislatures. Party
leaders from outside the Legislature d.
rected legislative operation, and ulti-
mately the one chief party leader exer-
cised sole control over his party votes
In the Legislature. Not selected by the
people, not responsible to them, not sub
Ject to the obligations OF official station.
free from all the limitations which laws
have thrown about the exercise of official
power. proceeding In private and account
able to no ono for the motives or the
influences operating upon him, this ex-
Unconstitutional authority came to con-
troll the constitutional government OF the
States
"A popular revolt against the System
thus created found its expression In many
parts of the country In state Constitu-
tons crowded with limitations upon the
power Of the Legislature anu In the ex-
pedient OF direct legislation by the peo-
pie through the initiative and compulsory
referendum. Those expedlents have been
the outcome of proper and laudable de-
termination to escape from the control
Of Legislatures dominated in tho way
have described.
"They are not. however. the true ave-
nues OF escape. They are not progress.
They are retrogression. They are not re-
form. They are abandonment OF repre-
sentative government. They are based
upon a surrender OF state Legislatures 10
perdition.
Would Elect Legislature Leader.
Instead OF having an unofficial po-
litical boss leading our Legislature in
secret let the leader Of the Legislature
be elected by all the people OF the state.
nv Ia tut raIatinpa with he
legislative body that his leadership will
be exercised in public and lawful pro-
cedure. and let the Governor OF the State
lie that leader. To have effective gov
eminent somebody should be responsible
for governmental policy.
Let the Governor be responsible. sub
jeot to the approval or disapproval OF the
heads Of his executive departments have
seats IN the Senate and Assembly with the
right to explain their policies and the
duty 10 answer questions pertinent to
legislation.
As to the third branch OF government
the tudiclary--the position OF the Repub-
lican party Is clear and firm. II stands
for the Independence. the dignity and the
authority of the courts " believes. as
our fathers believed. that 1ere is the very
citadel OF liberty and OF Justice.
I'm the judicial field nevertheless We
recognize the need OF affirmative reform.
The administration OF Justice should be
made more simple, more speedy. more
direct, less costly. Complication and In
tricate tochnicalty OF judicial procedure.
which have resulted in some part from
the Inheritance OF customs arising In early
days under different conditions and In
greater part by continual legislative tin
kering with the law OF procedure. ought TO
be swept away. and the courts ought TO be
permitted TO do Justice in a simple and
natural way. unhindered by statutory
technicalities"