Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-03-06
Progressive Party Has Served
Purpose, Says Cong. VIM. Calder
In Revelation of Its Position.

The birthday of General John 4. Logan
was recently celebrated by the Logan
Club of Brooklyn. n. Y, with discus
sion of the question whether there is
need of the continuance of the Progress
sive party, Mr. Bainbridge Colby arguing
for the continuance of the party and
Congressman William NJ. Calder speaking
in opposition. This speech was regarded
as one of the most cogent and effective
that has been made on the subject under
discussion. 1t was published in full In
the Congressional Record of February %
and is worthy the careful attention of all
who are interested in the situation now
presented of men holding common beliefs
yet acting in opposition. 1t is not pos
sible here to print the speech but the fol-
lowing excerpts may be found both in
teresting and instructive:
We will come TO what really seems to
separate us;
and judicial decisions. personally l am
absolutely and unequivocally opposed to
submit to the people in the heat of pas
sion the question of whether judge who
has decided a grave question should be
removed from office for so doing. 1t is
matter of such great import to the sta
OF our Government tndt can not
for a moment concede 1t is for the best
interests of the people. The country has
lived through stormy times, and while
the courts have occasionally displeased,
still no man can successfully challenge
their integrity. We have laws on the
books today which provide for the trial
of corrupt judges. Let us strengthen
them If you will, but do not. for the sake
of the permanency of our institutions, de-
part from the system that has for so long
period preserved the stability Of the
Union. Let us not drag down one of the
strong arms of the Government. but
rather teach the youth of the country
greater respect for the judiciary than we
have been wont to in some OF the recent
years.
There is undoubtedly a good deal of
misconception regarding this particular
question. Some people have the idea that
this recall. of judicial decisions refers
to any Of question tito ~Ifs %heh
OF course this Is erroneous. AS un-
derstand it, the basis of the Progress
sive claim is explained in Col. Roosevelts
which appeared in the November Gem
tury. This holds, that the people them
selves should have the right to decide for
themselves. after due deliberation, what
books, and what construction is to be
placed upon the Constitutions. National
and State, by the courts, as far as 1t con-
Germs all laws for social ana INDUSTRIAL
Justice" This is general statement.
The time which should elapse before
decision made by a court could be acted
upon by the people is not stated, In fact,
/ do not believe any specific. plan which
has received the sanction Of party au-
thority has ever been promulgated; |
am aware that Col. Roosevelt says that
Doctrine can not be a Progressive, for
adherence to this particular principle
must be part of the general party creed.
Now / am not so sure whether we dii1er
and / have been impelled to this thought
by reading an editorial which appeared
in the Evening Mail of Saturday, January
he relied upon to correctly expound Pro-
rressive principles. In this editorial the
action of the people in voting upon the
constitutional amendment last November,
act could be based. is very strongly com
;mended. The article goes on to say that
there 10 no valid reason why other mat