Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-21
RAPS THE PRESIDENT
Justice Brewer Says Things
About Roosevelt.
UNTRUE TO HIS PROMISES
Executive Playing Hide and Seek
With People.
THE DANGER OF THIRD TERM
Supreme Court Judge Would Prefer
Nomination of Hughes-Safer
and Wiser Than Roosevelt.
UNTRUE TO HIS PROMISES
THE DANGER OF THIRD TERM


last night in Carnegie Hall by severe
criticism and arraignment of President
Roosevelt 1t was the first public meet
ing of the Civic Forum, an outcome of
the peace conference of last year which
was formed to provide a lyceum for the
discussion of national and internationa.
topics. Gov. Hughes made an addre SIS.
most of which he devoted to simplifying
the idea that the public officer mus,
work for the people only, and not to sat
isfy his own ambitions.
Justice Brewer not only reflected upon
the President openly. but by innuendo.
He openly contrasted Roosevelt and
Hughes. The governor escaped embar-
rassment by leaving early. He was not
there when Justice Brewer intimated
broadly that he was safer and wise r
man than the President. 1t was said
that he had no knowledge of what JUS
tice Brewer intended to say
Justice Brewer said that Carlyle looked
ticipated frenzied finance. frenzied poll
ties. frenzied law and frenZied justice.
If he were alive today he would prob
ably say: II told you So
He spoke of mob rule, denounced lynch
ing and declared that the country just
now was full of constitutional lawyers
He spoke of the sacredness of the Con-
stitution and passed to the subject Of
rulers. He added:
No one doubts that it is a base be-
.trayal of trust for an officer elected upon
one platform to turn around after Sc
curing office and support the opposite
side" He then said:
Unru1y Servants.
1.-The President is the chief magistrate
of this nation. We sometimes speak of
public officials as being servants, and.
when We have in mind the vast number
of ministerial officials doing purely c.eri, al
work, calling them public servants is not
improper, but putting these ministerial Of
ficials to side, and considering only
those who are the different legislative and
executive officials. there is ever present
the idea of ruling and ruler.
II do not mean to say that there Is not
also the thought of service. nor that
tive office is absolutely free from limita-
lions and can do just as he pleases; the
limits of his actions are prescribed. and
his exercise of discretion must be within
these limits, and in the exercise of that
discretion he ought ever to have the pub
lie welfare in mind. and thus in a qualified
sense he Is servant of the public. but
acting within these limits his judgment OF
what is the public welfare Is and should
be the judgment of a ruler.
But Notwithstanding this limitation. if
limitation 1t may be called, our execu-
tive and legislative officials are rulers,
while certain limitations are placed upon
them to prevent any Injurious results from
the exercise and unwise exercise of ruling
power. Certain constitutional limitations
are imposed. The ruler Is subject to re-
moval by impeachment or otherwise. But
these are only provisions which the people,
in framing the Constitution. deemeO nee
.essary to limit the extent of his authority
as a ruler.
Three Terms Too Much
Take the office of President. the high
est executive office in the nation. His
term is four years. subject to reelection.
The idea that fixed a short term Is that
of preventing permanent injurious re-
suits from the arbitrary and unauthor-
lied action of some ambitious and un-
principled President, IL ever there should
be one such in office.
1T may not be generally known that
the convention that framed the Constitu-
ton at first prescribed a presidential
term of seven years, with prohibition
upon reelection; and only as the con-
vention was nearing its end. and SO far
as the record shows without any discus
sion or suggestion of reason therefor, this
was changed into, q four years term: and
ment Of men. among whom / am one.
there was mistake in that change. In
the light of history think it would have
been better to have left the presidential
term of seven years with an accompany
ing ineigibility. If that were the pro-
vision We should not now have the spec
'tacle Of our strenuous President paying
a game of hide and seek with the Ameri-
can people"
enough Of Roosevelt"
When Justice Brewer intImated that
seven years of Roosevelt were enough
the audience fairly gasped. The justic,
paused a moment and then the applause
began. 1t soon swept through the audi
tOrium, and was prolonged and the loud
est of the evening. Long after it SUBJ
sided there were audible chuckles all over
the house. and the smiles did not come
off of most of those present for several
minutes. Justice Brewer then said tina.
ruler should not yield to local popular
for him to adopt the politicians trick of
being for the law. but against its enforce
ment." He added:
AS said. wise ruler is not indif-
ferent to the wishes of the people As
he Is but one. and they are many he
may we'll defer to them in all minor
matters. For instance it would be fool
ish to quarrel with them about simplified
spelling. Perhaps 1t would be foolish
for anybody to quarrel about that. So
in matters of governmental policy he
naturally and wisely seeks harmonious
relations with them. And yet harmony
and peace are not always possible with
out a sacrifice on his part greater than
he can rightfully make.
For instance even in economic matters
questions of governmental policy, he
should never turn his back on the ex-
pressed principles of the party which
elected him. In other words. he never
should take Office on an implied promise
and then repudate that promise. Such
conduct Is political treachery, and a trail
tor is always despicable. Nor, in respect
to new questions which may arise after
his election, may he rightfully lead into
lines of policy which he Is firmly con-
WINGED tend to national danger. In cases
like that duty calls upon him to be true
to his convictions at the expense of pres
ent popularity.
Above all things, he may never disre-
gard the teachings of peace justice and
morality. He should always remember
that which the wise man said: Right
eousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a
reproach to any people
Hughes the Better Man.
Justice Brewer had more coming for
Roosevelt. and he used his name with
that OF Gov. Hughes. declaring one spec
tacular and the other calm In Judgment
and action after which he said:
More and more are we coming to learn
that in politics as we'll as in business as
in all other relations. character LOYALTY
to high ideals are the mighty factors of
every life. Great applause) Some sneer-
ingly said of Theodore Roosevelt when
of Nau Y0r hot bo