Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-09-04

! win Authority. 10 Nnorol the Nohiihd
tion for President and Dictate the Policy
He Shall Pursue.
BY CHARLES b. WAITE A ".
The nomination of Secretary Taft. in
the way in which it has been brought
&uout is 'he great political crime of
the age against The repr, sentative prin
cipe Of republican government.
That principle requires that the peo-
pie be left free from outside interfar
ence in choosing their public officers.
Py this is not meant, OF course. that
they should be free from influence.
L.. every election a thousand influences
Of various kinds are brought to bear
upon the voter, and most of them are
perfectly legitimate.
But there is one species of influence
which is not legitimate 1t is that
which emanates from the seat of the
national government al Washington.
Republicanism requires that there the
maxim should be, Hands off" Es
pecialy is this true when choice is to
| b" made of President. and the highest
executive officer of the government.
The right of choice is in the body of
electors: and though it may be dele
gated as among themselves. it cannot
be abridged. or shared with any outside
power II can no more be shared with
the Pr Sident of the United States than
Va. the President OF France, or the
King of England.
II will be said that the President. in
participating in such a matter. is act
ing in a private capacity, and is only
exercising his rights as a private citi-
zen. That is a mere subterfuge Con-
ceding that he has a right to vote for
President. (Which is by no means
clear). that is a very different thing
| from taking an active part in favor of
one candidate and against another.
To test this matter, let us ask. could
the President, as a private citizen. aid
in bringing about his own impeach-
Ment? However much President
Roosevelt might deserve impeachment,
| because of his fragrant usurpation of
! the powers of the other departments
of the government, could citizen Roose-
welt aid in bringing about such i'm
parchment? If he could motif he
could not thus aid in unmaking 4 Pres
ident, how can he aid in making one?
The one is just as Inconsistent as
the other.
But the argument, though sound and
pertinent. may well be dispensed with,
because it may be boldly asserted that
Roosevelt has. in his official capacity
as President of the United States not
orly used his active efforts in behalf
or Secretary Taft, but has thrown the
full weight of his official power and i'm
nense public patronage in the same di-
will be denied again; but what are the
facts? Let us look at the evidence:
l. There is one species of internal
evidence which is more conclusive and
satisfactory than any external evi-
dence. 1t is that which is based on
the nature of things: upon the charac-
ter of the individual: upon his modes
of thought and methods of action; upon
the impulses and motives which govern
his conduct; upon the course he usu-
ally pursues to accomplish his pur,
pOss.
Now, let us apply these tests to this
case. and what will be the result
What are the impulses and notices
which usually determine the action of
President Roosevelt? If he has Ger
tain purposes in view which he Is de
termined to accomplish. is he usually
particularly conscientious as to the
J means he adopts? Does he stop to in
quire whether they would square with
our highest esthitical conceptions, OF
whether they would conform TO the
!. theory and w2ll-estabIished principles
, vi oui SoNeiiIicHt IL lie uOeS nOl
, ordinary look al these things. woult
/ he be likely to do so in this case? II
: il his determination to control the
legislative department of the govern
Eient, he will send for the younger
members of Congress, and have private
and confidential interviews with them
10 induce them to organize concerted
, action against the old and tried lead
/ 6rs OF the H0uSe-men honOred and re
1 spected throughout the country; if h.
= VIA do this would he hesitate to hole
private conferences with the same con
: slessmen either then or at Other
times, concerning his candidate fol
President? He would only have t.
: make the interview confidential ant
= then the members could not disclose it:
Q character. However difficult it nigh
+ be for President Mckinley. or any otheI
l President having due regard for tn,
character and dignity of the preslden
= tial Office, to make such an interview
. confidential. 1t would be the casics
, thing in the world for an adroit an,
p experienced politician like Roosevelt
In such interview the youthful con
giessman would be exposed to all tn,
t temptations of o. .cial patronage. Wis
ions of lucrative and influential posi-
tons for himself and friends woul,
q float before his eyes Even if no allu
\ son to any Office should be made. n,
| would. by the confidential manner o
the President. be given to understand
that the road was open.
u 2 If the President has not been il
touch with those engaged in President