Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-03
THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
How n Two Leading Candidates
View Ita Responsibilities.
The outlook. New York.

The Outlook. New York.
Both Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan have given
in the pages Of Golfers Weekly their con-
ceptlon Of the presidency. Both papers are
brief: the contrast between them is sig
n%ificant, not only Of the difference between
the men, but also OF the difference between
the parties. Mr.. Taft is impressed with the
responsibilities and burdens of the presi-
dency. He accepts the principles of his
party, but only because he believes that
they are for the best interest OF the nation.
The office is to be administered, in accord
ance with the party principles. but wholly
for the popular welfare. The presidents
duties are clearly outlined by the constltu-
ton, but they are very much greater than
they were conceived to be by the trainers
OF the constitution, for those duties have
grown broader in their Interpretation with
the growth of the country" He Is the rep
resentative, not Of any district or section,
but of all the people; and from all the peo-
pie, lin the sober thought OF the majority,
he will get his best counsel" "He should
be always near the people In thought and
as near them in person as his position will
permit" Once convinced he Is carrying
out their real wish, he must be neither
elated by applause nor diverted by censure
from the accomplishment OF the popular
will. From three presidents he may learn
wisdom. from Washington. Lincoln and
Roosevelt; from the last because he has
proved how the people will respond to a
strong and true leadership when the hour
has come for great reforms. The policies
which he i~naugurated must be continued
and developed. They are right, and they
are the policies Of the people," While Mr..
Taft's first sentence emphasizes the re-
sponsibilities and the burdens OF the presi-
dency. Mr.. Bryan's first sentence en-
phasizes its limitations: 'The presidents
power for good or for harm is often over
estimated" our government is a govern
ment Of checks and balances" In the max
ing of laws the president joins with con-
gress; in the enforcement of law The Is
hedged about with restrictions "1n the
making Of important appointments, too,
he must consult the senate Mr.. Bryan,
with Mr.. Taft, lays stress upon the fact
that the president represents the whole
people, and that This sympathy shall be
with the whole people rather than with any
fraction OF the population" and that 'he
must possess the moral courage to stand
against the Influences that are brought to
bear in favor of special interests" Thus,
while in some respects the two papers are
analogous and embody the same conception,
as in the emphasis which they lay upon
the duty of the president to act for general
and not for special interests, II may fairly
be said that the word '~1argeness' repre-
sents Mr.. Taft's conception, and the word
Limitation" represents Mr.. Bryan's. We
do not think that we do either injustice
IL we say that the one believes in a strong
government, made a power for good by the
moral qualities OF those who administer
It, and the other believes in a restricted
government, kept from being a power for
evil by a system OF checks and balances.
One striking incident illustrated the differ
ence between the two men, for we do not
think the incident is either occidental or
insignificant. Both Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Bryan refer to the advisers OF the presi-
dent. Mr.. Taft does not refer to his cabi-
net. His conception of presidential advisers
is expressed in the following sentences:
He should look not only to those in
office but to those out OF office In all
branches of private activity for
and opinion, In order that he may arrive
at the truth when he is surrounded by the
conflict Of interests which come to him
with the Iair words of the special pleader.
Mr.. Bryan regards the president as com
mitted by his platform to certain policies,
and the platform binding. But there Is a
wide zone in which he must act upon his
own judgment, and here he ought to have
the aid of intelligent, conscientious, and
faithful advisers. The law provides these.
to a certain extent, in giving him a cabi-
net, and the vice-president ought to be
made a member Of the cabinet, ex %officio."
If this difference is not accidental. MIR.
Taft will look to representatives of all the
people within and without his party for In
formation and counsel; Mr.. Bryan to rep
- A
with him in the administration.
It is also a curious and perhaps not I'm
significant fact that MT. Bryan has fallen
into the error Of supposing that the presl-
dents cabinet is provided for by law. In
fact, we quote Mr.. Bryce's American
Commonwealth 1.-THE so-called cabinet is
unknown to the statutes as well as to the
constitution of the United States" The
constitution and the laws provide for
heads OF departments. but not for a cabi-
net. The presidents. from the earliest time,
have been accustomed to make these heads
OF departments their counselors, but there
is nothing In either the constitution or the
laws requiring them so to do, and Mr..
Bryan is at perfect liberty to call In the
vice president Of the United States. the
speaker of the house, or any private citizen
as a counselor and add him to the cabinet
1t is characteristic Of the two men that Mr..
Taft should recognize the fact that the
president may get his counselors wherever
he likes. and that Mr.. Bryan should mag
inc that his counselors are determined for
him by the constitution and the laws OF the
United States. We should like to see both
the great parties print these two papers,
entitled MY conception to the Presidency"
and distribute them throughout the United
States in a common effort to let the people
OF the nation have the information these
papers would give to them respecting the
personalities and the principles of the two
candidates between whom they are to
make their selection.
ACTIVITIES OF THE WEST.