Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-06-24
IAFI'S VIEWS AS
TO PRESIDENCY

81
the office Of president in the current
issue Of Golfers Weekly:
In the four years that have been
member Of the cabinet, have be-
come familiar enough with the re
sponsibilities and burdens of the presi-
dency to know that no man can afford
undlily to seek that great office If
he IS attracted by honor and power
alone, without the hope of being use
full, he is unworthy Of the honor and
unfit for the use of power. He must
prefer, for the sake of his own peace
OF mind, never to be president to
being a poor president. Confident that
the platform on which he stands is
for the best interests of the nation,
he Is untrue to himself and his sup.
porters if he does not fight valiantly
for an election after he accepts the
leadership. But on the other hand he
must draw the line at any compact
which will not leave him free from
promises and Of control of any fac.
ton.
THE presidents duties, clearly out.
lined by the constitution, have grown
broader in their Interpretation with
the growth Of the country. He should
be in the prime of years, health and
vigor. Capacity for hard work is a
better equipment than genius in mas
tering the essentials of all the depart
ments of the government and under
going the strain of countless inter-
views. He should look not only to
those in office but to those out of
office, in all branches of private ac-
tivity for information and opinion, in
order that he may arrive at the truth.
He is surrounded by a conflict of in
terests which come to him in the fair
words of special pleaders.
In many senses, though most
sought after, he is the loneliest nan
in the United States. Elected direct
ly by the people, their representative
had in the sober thought Of the ma
jority che will get his best counsels.
Though indifference or preoccupation
with private affairs may keep them
from attending the primaries or scan
ming closely the other candidates or
measures, they can center on the
president, as their instrument, the ex-
preston Of their wishes. He should
be always near the people in thought
and as near them in person as his
position will permit. In common with
the people, he is human, and he must
ask their charity for his mistakes,
for when they have ceased to believe
in his sincerity and uprightness OF
purpose, his is cherries task. Once
convinced that he has OWNED and is
carrying out their real wish, neither
by the outburst of applause nor by
any outburst Of censure, he must pro-
coed unwaveringly on methods for
the accomplishment of the popular
will. .
From Washington he may learn
nobility, fortitude and uprightness.
Lincoln's life and speeches must be
his source of inspiration when he is
misunderstood and he has to say to
himself, patience and cheer" 1t is
easier since we had Lincoln than
it was before to be good president.
He set the standard.
1T remained for Roosevelt to prove
how the people will respond to
strong and true leadership when the
hour has come for great reforms. The
policies which he inaugurated must be
continued and developed They are
right and they. are the policies of the
people. For that reason his successor
may disregard any charge of lack of
originality If he does not make an
entirely new program of his own.
"The president at this time has work
before him, clearly defined. The en-
forcement of the law equally against
the high and low, powerful and weak,
should be his first thought.
"The danger to our country in this
is the greatest one we have to face.
Conservation of our national re-
sources in their development for use
of all, along the lines of equal OPP
portunity, too, must command his inn
perative attention. It should be his
aim to give high tone to his admins
tration. as President Roosevelt has,
by surrounding himself with men of
prominence. enthusiasm in public in
terest and men Of the cleanest and
most effective methods.