The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-30
HOW HE FILLS THE JOB
ROOSEVELT ON PRESIDENTIAL
RESPONSIBILITIES.
Says in the Whole World There is
Hardly Another Ruler Whose
Power Compares with That Of
Americas Chief Executive.

Boston, Oct. 29.-In an article wri' ten
for The Youths Companion, which will
be published next week, Theodore Roose-
welt gives his ideas of the duties and re-
sponsibilities of the President of the
United States
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote the article in 1900
while he was Governor of New York and
previous to the Republican National Con-
vention which nominated him for the
Vice-Presidency. In it, Mr.. Roosevelt
says:
THE President of the United States oc-
cupies a position of peculiar Importance.
In the whole world there is no other ruler,
certainly no other ruler under free in
situations. whose power compares with
his. OF course, there is the enormous per-
sonal factor of the incumbent himself to
be considered entirely apart from the
power of the Office itself. This is merely
another way of stating that in any office
the personal question is always of vital
consequence
The Senators are the constitutional adj
visers of the President. The secretaries
who form the cabinet advise him on mat
tiers of general policy when he so de-
sires 1t. With the Senate the advice
and consulta ton are obligatory under the
constitution. The Senate has no right to
dictate to the President who shall be ap-
pointed, but they have an entire right to
say who shall not be appointed for under
the constitution this has been made their
duty.
Although many men must share with
the President the responsibility. there is
upon him always heavy burden of re-
sponsibility. 1t is easy enough to give
a bad administration. but to give good
administration demands the most anx-
fous thought no less than very unusual
powers of mind.
There is every reason why the Presi-
dent should be held to a sharp accounta-
bility alike for what he does and for what
he leaves undone. But we injure our
selves and the nation if we fail to treat
with proper respect the man who. in the
highest Office in our land is striving to
do his duty. We have had Presidents who
have acted weakly or unwiselv in partic-
ular cases but we have never had one
concerning whose personal integrity there
was so much as a shadow of suspicion.
Apro intments and policies which are
normally routine and unimportant may
suddenly become of absolutely vital con-
sequence. The war department was ut
terly neglected for over thirty years after
the civil war. Neither the regular Of
ficer nor the regular soldier takes any
part in politics. as a rule, so that the
demagogue and bread and butter poll
tician have no fear of his vote; and to
both of them. and also to the cheap SEN
sational newspaper, the army offers IA
vorite subject for attack.
80 it often happens that some amiable
people really get a little afraid of the
army and have some idea that it may be
used some time or other against liber-
ties.
THE army never has been, and / am
sure, 1t will never be. or can be, menace
to anybody save Americas foes. or aught
but source of pride to every good and
far-sighted American.
when an emergency like that caused
by the Spanish war, arises, the Secretary
of War becomes the most important Of
ficer in the cabinet.
Altogether, there are few harder tasks
than that of filing we'll and ably the
office of President of the United States.
But if the man at the close of his term
is able to feel that he has done his duty
well, he has the satisfaction of knowing
he has performed one of the great world
tasks and the mere performance is in it
self the greatest of all possible rewards. ="