Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-12-05
NEAR DANGER POINT
POSSIBILITY OF A DICTATOR IN
THE PRESIDENTS CHAIR.
Faction Of the Republican Party Seems
Intent on Concentrating Power in
the Chief Executive-Proceed-.
ing Is Revolutionary.

The president of the United States
Is a unique figure amongst the heads
of the nations. He has more power
than the czar of Russia, because the
car is held in check by the imperial
council, whose members have great in
dividual influence and represent not
only the civil but the ecclesiastical
president controls absolutely his cab
met and all other executive officials,
through the influence of patronage.
He in a great measure controls the
majority party of congress. Only the
supreme. court is above and %independ-
ent of him and that court can be
packed for special purposes of great
party necessity by the appointment to
vacancies as they occur. President
Roosevelt tried not long ago to OBJ
tain a promise from Chief Justice
Fuller to retire, SO that a Republican
appointee of the president could take
the place, thereby perhaps changing
the decisions of the court on political
questions. There is another power
that President Roosevelt has invoked
when he summoned representatives of
capital and labor to his council cham
Der and forced them to arbitrate ques-
tons of disagreement between them
and promise to abide by the decision
of a commission of his appointing,
there being no warrant for such a
summary proceeding either in the con-
stitution or the statute law. In that
case the suffering of the people from
the scarcity of coal produced by the
strike made many people indorse that
action and approve it.
A faction of the Republican party,
which may be termed the radical
wing, is intent on concentrating all
power in the hands of the president
by virtually allowing him to become
the dictator of politics, legislation,
business and morals. No former pres
ident of the republic ever dreamed
of this one-man power, and the ia
theirs of the republic would have been
discarded If they had attempted it.
The legislative branch of the govern
ment was expressly made independent
of the president as far as the law
making power is concerned, the presi-
dent only having the right to recon-
mend legislation and to veto bills he
could not approve, but even the veto
power was limited, for two-thirds of
congress could override 1t.
But lately another ruler has arisen
that arrogates to himself imperial pow
er, sometimes wisely welded, but
often sadly misplaced. No mar is so
good and great that he can do all
things wisely and well, and the dis
tribution of power through the legisla-
tive, judicial and executive depart
ments was intended to SO balance
things that a dictator would be i'm
possible.
We are on the verge of overthrow
ing that wise distribution Of power
and may regret before long that we
have sanctioned, if not actually ap-
proved, most revolutionary proceed
ings. The next president may be a
worse man than the present one, he
may be more adroit and circumspect
in increasing and using his power,
and a president may O appear that
will find imperial power ready made
to his hand and he may seize it.
Could we dethrone him If he did so?
He would command the army and the
navy, and, under the new law, he also
controls the militia. He could IL he
would overawe us and by adroit man
agement perpetuate his power. There
is no law against third terms or fourth
ones, and 1t would not be difficult to
find a pretext for the use of armed
men at the polls and to drive those
opposed to his reelection away from
the counting of the votes, and parti-
sanship would do the rest. This is
what people must think Of If they
wish to see the perpetuation of the re,
public in which all the public have
a voice.