Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-10-27
EXECUTIVE USURPATION.
Not in a Republican Congress TO Oppose
a Republican President.

Secretary of War William II. Taft,
speaking for the Administration at the
Union League Club meeting on Thurs
day night, quoted from Judge Parker's
letter OF acceptance this, and proceeded
to criticise ii;
Already the National Government
has become centralized beyond any
point contemplated by the trainers OF
the Constitution. How tremendously
all this has added to the power of
the President 1t has developed from
year to year until it almost equals that
of many monarchs
Then Secretary Taft has this com
ment to make:
I'm what respect does the Executive
to-day exercise any more power than
he did in the time Of Washington and
Jefferson? Ii may be that the PreSl-
dent of the United States exercises
more power under the Constitution
than many monarchs. IL this Is true
to-day, 1t is because the Constitution
builders put the instrument into force.
But IL it were otherwise, II there has
been an enCroachment by the Execu-
tive on the legislative and judicial
branches of the Government. why does
not the Judge point out where these
usurpatiOns are. so that he may prom
Use to the people that under his admin
istration such usurpations will not be
continued"
Again continues Secretary Taft:
The possibility of improper limita-
ton Of executive power by Congress is
real, but the danger that tie Executive
will usurp the functions of the Legls-
lature is mere hobgoblin, because the
Legislature has always at its command
that which in England won from the
most arbitrary kings liberty for the
people--the power over the public
purse. Mere inaction by Congress
would render the President powerless."
Judge parker's assertion as TO the
Capitalization Of power In the Govern
ment Is most abundantly warranted by
abuses too VIGOROUSLY patent to need
specification. Not a few admlnlstra-
tons have seen this question under dis
CIssion in Congress. and before the
people on the hustin2s. 1t Is by no
means new question. 1t was last
most seriously debated during the ad-
ministratiou OF President Grant. New
er before has the question OF central
iZation OF power assumed SO grave an
aspect as under the administration
OF Mr. Roosevelt Since the day lie
took the oath OF Office. after the death
of William Mckinley, Theodore Roose-
welt has ben evCy energy OF an e&-
ceptiGnally energetic nature 10 pre- mot
ing his own succession, and In the pur-
suit Of that object he has time and
again transgressed the legitimate
sphere OF his executive functions.
Mr.. Taft was in the Philippines
when Mr.. Roosevelt was bossing his
Republican Congress. and there were
things about Congress he didn't see.
There were Republicans in that Con
gress who several times eyinced symp-
toms of revolt, but the power OF the
Executive was quickly brought into
play and the would-be party recalci-
trants were incontinen1ly whipped into
line.
II is the veriest idle twaddle to speak
In this connection OF the Leglsla
ture" having the power 10 make the
Executive poweriefs. what Ii the pow
cr Of the Legislature worth 50 long as
ii Is unexercised when II most needs to
be exercised: Did Republican Con.
gress ever dare to oppose Republican
Executive: II fl has ever been crlt-
cised by Republican members. Ii has
been by indIr -ctlou. with the tnal re-.
suit that the vote Of the Republican
Legislature has been with the Execu
tive The Republican Congress has
done President Rooseyeit's bidding alb
jpctly and servileiy. the while its Iu
diylduals In private criticised and ever
cursed his fatuous laundering.
Congress may. indeed. under the