The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-08
ROOSEVELT ASSAILS
0LDPARTIES IN SOUTH
He Says Democrats and Republi-
cans Are Utterly Wrong in
Their Policies.
TALKS AT NEW ORLEANS
Colonel Calls for Conservation
of the Water Power Of
the Mississippi.


NEW ORLEANS. SPIT. 7.-Be,o-e a crowd
that taxed the capacity OF tho French
opera House Col. Roosevelt delivered to-
night the big speech of his Louisiana
tour. The address followed a busy day
spent in conferences with Progressive
leaders and In q series OF brief addresses
Col. Roosevelt in the speech at tine opera
house accused the Democratic party of
being elected to office on one platform and
then mapping out and following policy
entirely diffcren: from It's pledges.
Col. Roosevelt said In his address:
In all this country no action taken by
any body OF American citizens IL more hope
full FOR the entire country than tho action
taken by you Progrpss,ves of Louisiana
Moreover OF all tnc members OF tho
Progressive party there are none who
more emphatical'y deserve we'll OF the
party and we'll OF tho nation than you
"lt 81 out OF the question that the old
Republican party can ever secure the con-
fderce Of the South and the actions OF
it's responsible masters In tho North at
the present time show that rs deliberate
purpose is 90 become the bulwark OF
Bourbon antagonlsm 10 advance through
out the nation.
~ is out OF the question that the old
Democratic party. welded 20 outworn
principles OF government and dead and
buried economic theories, can ever do
real good. North or South. 4 new party
10 needed to meet the new sds OF tho
nop day.
There IS one special matter as to which
you men and women OF Louisiana have
an especial Interest In tho development
Of the ratlona, iden. You live at the
mouth of tAe Mississippi The great
Father Of Waters is at once your most
valuable asset and your most dangerous
liability. Rightly controlled and used the
Mississippi Is Of incalculable worth in
making this rich and fertile South n true
garden OF the Lord.
Federal Control.
Tho national Government must take
complete charge OF this great river and
is tributaries from the sources TO the
SEE. This Is no new doctrine with me.
insisted upon Il when 7 was President.
But neither Of the old parties has adopted
L.
Tho national Government has just nm
ished one great Job. the Panama Canal.
I am sorry 20 say that having finished II
and having reflected the highest honor
on the nation by the way IN which This
work has been done. our people now
seem ready To acQuiescc IN the proposal
Of the present Administration to apollo
gize and pay bla ckmail for the acts which
alonc rendered 1t possible TO do tho Job
at All.
What wish 10 point out at present
Is that II this Government IA wise instead
81 paying s2j. 900 00u blackmail to alien
wrongdoers and their heirs. II will use
that s2J.00O.0O0 and the plant OF the
Panama Canal and as many scores OF
millions extra as are necessary, In pre-
clsey the same way as II used this money
TO construct the Panama Canal. to take
control Of the Mississippi and to develop
all Its possibilities OF usefulness from the
headwaters to the delta.
THE problem OF the foods which have
caused such frlghtful disaster to III"
states along the lower course Of the Mis-
s,ssippi must he met not only by levee
building but by great storage reservoirs
upstream which will receive tho food
waters In times Of fr,shets
state Ownership.
"One OF the reasons why do not
believe IN state ownership where II Is
possible to substitute for II supervision
and regulation by the State Is because In
actual experience II has proved so very
dificult to combine efficiency In service
rendered and sclf-suppcrt IN business
undertaken by the state.
"All that 7 now wish to point out Is
that whatever the form Of ownership ~
the average business must pay FOR Itself
or misery and suffering viii come TO the
"Our governmental policy should be
aimed At securing Il prope. division OF
prosperity. But u must also he such as
TO bring prosperity or there will be moth
ing to divide. The policies that have
hern formulated and enacted into law In
Washington during tho last year and a
quarter for example. have not In the
smallest degree helped 20 secure greater
justice IN the distribution OF prosperity,
and yet thcy have yer" seriously Inter
fered with the existence or prosperity
Instead OF helping 10 make everybody
n little better of they have helped TO
make everybody distinctly worse off The
prime need Is TO put stop TO the policies
that tend 20 make everybody worse or
and at the same time no. In tho mere
swing OF the pendulum to go 20 the foolish
extreme OF standing by policies which Will
make some of our people better or but
won't help the bulk to become better on.
TT IL the Progressive party alone which
has had the holiness and farsignted hon
ssty to propose n programme which really
will help 10 achieve these two results,
which all honest citizens ought 10 have
in view,
both the ola parties are welded to
their Idols. The Republican party by
every action II has taken during the past
two years has made II evident that II
intends TO see that the rank and file are
ehackled and are put completely under
the control OF tho great bosses cr the
stamp OF Mr.. Penrose and Mr.. Barnes
Need OF Combinations.
During the last month under the
strain OF war in Europe all kinds Of
d!slocatons have occurred In our bust
ness. The price of the necessaries Of life
and especially Of food, has gone M
greatly. for example. IN New York. The
cotton trade has found itself AZ noin'
where none can tell what ought to be
done.
'Tn both cases there was most urgent
need NJ a proper combination among the
business mon and especially ANON the
small business men engaged In handling
the STAPLES of life. I'm each case SnPn