The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-25
SOME OF THE NEW BOOKS
The American Republic and It's Gov

Inc american HepuD1c anu Ats Wv
ernment.
Professor James A. Woodburn, OF lndi-
ana University, Is showing his familiarity
with American history and politics and
his qualification to teach them by series
of instructive books the subject His
Political Parties and Party Problems In
the United States" recently reviewed IN
the Journal, is now followed by THE
American Republic and Its Government,
which a subtitle designates as IAN anal
ysis Of the government Of the United
States. with a consideration of its funda-
mental principles and of its relations to
the States and Territories" The field has
been very thoroughly traversed by histor-
ical and political writers, by commentat-
ors on the Constitution, and by essayists
without number. In presenting a new
work on the subject Professor WOODBURY.
was actuated by desire to offer a book
that should occupy an intermediate field
between elementary textbooks in civics
and much more advanced works, like
Bryce's THE American Commonwealth"
Professor WOODBURY. has endeavored to fill
what seemed to him a gap in the literature
of the subject by supplying an intermediate
book for advanced courses in high schools
or for elementary courses in colleges. The
primary object of the work is to encour-
age the study of the Constitution of the
United States, of the principles that I'M
derlie it and Of the practical methods of
administering the government it estab-
fishes. From this point of view the au-
thor has produced work calculated to
interest the student Of political history
and the the general reader as well; The first
Fathers" and ''The Federal Nation" treat
of conditions that preceded the forma-
ton of the Constitution and the funda-
mental principles that underlie ii, and the
following. chapters analyze, explain and
discuss the Constitution and its workings.
The book shows careful research, but the
author sometimes approaches inaccuracy OF
statement. Thus, speaking of what he calls
the unwritten Constitution" he mentions
as one of its laws that ''the Senate will
not refuse to confirm Cabinet appoint
ments. 1t did in the case of Alexan-
der L. Stewart, appointed secretary of the
treasury by President Grant, in 1869. The
reason for the Scnate's refusal to confirm
the appointment was an old law which eX-
cludes from that office all persons who are
interested in the importation of merchan-
disc. The President sent to the Senate a
message recommending that the law be
repealed in order that Mr. Stewart might
become eligible to the Office, but the law
was not repealed. The Senate would not
cohnrm any taDinet appointment 10 wnlch
any public scandal attached. Again, the
author says lit is a law of the unwritten
Constitution that a member of Congress
must reside in the district from which he
is chosen" That is established political
usage, but as a matter of fact, Hon. Sam
uel S. Cox, of New York, represented for
several years a district in which he did
not reside. In discussing the presidency.
the author says: THE President exercises
judicial power, or at least, power over the
judiciary. when he appoints the judges
of the Supreme Court and all the infer
ior federal judicial officers" That is mis-
leading, because the Constitution sepa-
rates executive and judicial powers, and the
appointment of a judge cannot properly
be called the exercise of judicial power
These, however, are mere inaccuracies OF
expression, and do not affect the essen
tial merits of the work. New York: G. p,
Putnams Sons.