The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-10
Friday, January 10, 1902.
A POLITICAL MAVERICK.

ly tell it where it is "at" politically,
for according to its esteemed Butte
contemporary, the Miner, it is neither
democratic nor republican. To this
charge the Standard must plead gull
ty, after having seen fit to endorse
the suggestion of former Senator
Chandler of New Hampshire concern
ing the greater exclusiveness that
should hedge the official life of the
president of the United States.
The former senator and the Miners
bette noir in an article in the Wash
ington Post recommends a reform in
the present methods of conducting ex-
ecutive business. He holds that the
president should be less easily ap-
proachable and not be expected to in
terest himself in the countless
trifling affairs which are now crowded
upon him. In being obliged to see SO
many thousands of people who are per-
mitted to obtrude themselves upon
him, Chandler says he impairs his
health and renders himself physically
unable to grapple with the great prob
lens to which he ought to give his
undivided attention. He believes that
the great weight of the pressure for
Office should fall upon the cabinet
ministers, and that the president ought
to have more time for important
things. 'The time has come" he says,
when access to the president, ex-
cept at public receptions, should be
limited to the cabinet ministers, SEN
ators. representatives and ambassa-
doris, and. to such other persons only
as T given interviews for public
purposes after written applications
shall have been received and carefully
considered" He also would make the
public receptions fewer and his social
life free of intrusions.
In opposition to this the Miner de-
votes about a column. of space and
declares that to adopt the New Eng
lander's views would be to rob our
government of those features best cal
culated to preserve its present form
and to lay the foundation for an aris-
tocratic oligarchy. if not worse. It
characterizes the notion as undemo-
cratic and unrepublican and says a
spirit is abroad in the land that would
ape royalty in the expression of gov
eminent, if not in it's theory, and
would give imperialism "a habitation
and a name" in the white house and
upon all the higher planes of federal
authority. The plea of the senator
that the presidents health is broken
down by coming in personal contact
with thousands of Americans, every
n of them a sovereign. whose
servant he pleases to be, the Miner
characterizes as smacking of the nam
by-pamby Of royal life.
In conclusion it calls the former
senator ugly and harsh names and
takes occasion to once more congratu-
1oIc Tie PcOple vi LIS SLdLo upon MS
retirement.
The Standard after reading the Min
er's vitriolic editorial on the Chandler
idea and suggestion will probably wish
it had remained silent until after it's
Butte contemporary had spoken upon
the subject. Henceforth it must al
ways feel itself beyond the pale and
aimlessly wander about, a newspaper
without a party, an advocate of every
thing unrepublicain, undemocratic and
unamerican. In view of the utter in
difference the Anaconda publication
has in the past manifested concerning
the Miners opinion of it and is con-
duct it is barely possible that the
Standard will continue to say Chand-
Ter is all right and that the ideas he
has + eminently right and proper,
while at the same time deploring the
fact that no man who may fill the
presidents Office will probably be
found who has so little care for policy
as to adopt them.
While It may be a matter of regret
that the council could not see it's way
clear to the acceptance of local bids
only in making contracts for the new