Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-03-07


SENATOR MORGAN PROTESTS.
from New York named Matthews and
nominated him TO be recorder of deeds
for the District of Columbia. The
senate rejected the nomination. Presi-
dent Cleveland sent the nomination
again to the senate, and it was again
rejected. Then, when the congress
was not in session, in the following
summer, he appointed his man Mat
thews, put him in Office and sent his
nomination to the senate when the
body convened the following Decem-
ber. Again his man was rejected; but,
in plain violation of the constitution,
he kept his man in that office during
his entire first administration. He
wholly ignored the constitution, and
he forced his party in the house of
representatives to enact just such
legislation as ne dictated. That was
imperialism, worse and more DOM
ineering than the German emperor
would dare to impose upon his legisla-
tive body.
iidl lSOh' mn
other great man, a masterful man, who
compelled his party to bow to his will
because of his use of the power of pat
ronage. Everybody, political friend
and foe, admitted that Harrison waa
one of the greatest intellectual forces
that ever reached the presidency; but
il was also well.known that he made
imperial use of his power of patron
age to compel legislation, and also to
force his denomination at Minneap-
oils, in 1892.
Then came Cleveland's second ad-
ministration; and it was more impe.
rial than any preceding administra-
ton. He looked down upon the repre-
sentatives with unconcealed contempt,
and spoke of having congress on his
hands," as he would speak of having
to hold the reins over team of balky
horses. He called the congress to meet
in extra session in August, 1898, and
compelled the repeal of the silver pur-
chasing law. So domineering, so mas
terful, so imperialistic was Cleveland,
| that Senator Morgan, of Alabama, in
open session of the senate resented
the encroachment of the executive
upon the legislative branch of the gov
ernment, and he severely denounced
his weaker brothers in the senate,
when he said: "The clock strikes in
the white house, and the cuckoos
about us here come out of their boxes
to tell us the time of day"
These are only few facts, CLEANED
| n f,1l crar fn { hn tha do N
Gus imperial tendency of our times.
The government is growing away from
the constitution. When you elect
member of congress, what is your pur-
pose? You intend that he shall be-
come member of the great repre-
sentative body of the people, and that
he shall participate in affairs of state;
do you not? WelA what do you sup
pose your representative amounts to
when he gets into congress? He don't
amount to anything at all. He is a
mere atom in the government. He has
nothing to say whatever. He may
make speech once in awhile; but no.
body here listens to him. The speech
is printed and sent out home, where
the dear deluded people believe that
their representative has been doing
wonders.
The senator's and representatives in
congress nowadays do nothing without
! first ascertaining what the imperial
president wants them to do. The
speaker and few of the leading older
members of the house go to the pres
ident and ascertain what legislation he
will approve. Then they go back 10
the capitol, prepare and introduce
bills, and hurry them along through
the committees. The speaker gives
recognition only to the men whom he
knows have been to the president. The
bills which the president desires are
enacted and sent to the senate. There
the same performance is gone through
with in dignified pant omime. Having
thus been passed by the house and SEN
ate, the bills are sent to the president
Inasmuch as the Legislation was orig
inally dictated by him, it suits him.
He signs the bills, and thus they be-
come laws.
This is not said merely of the pres
ent president, but it is statement Of
fact concerning the way things are
done in Washington; and that is the
way legislation has. been carried on for
almost quarter OF century.
j SMITH d. FRY.