The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-08-26
BRYAN ON PRESIDENCY
Democratic Nominee Defines His
Idea of the Office.
BELIEVES IN ONE TERM.
Must Be In Sympathy With the PEG.
ple-DecIares Dur Government Not a
One Man Affair-Favors Vice Presi.
dent as Elk Offieio Cabinet Member.

pIe-Declares Our Government Not a
One Man Affair-Favors Vice Presi-
dent as Elk Offieio Cabinet Member.
William j. Bryan, Democratic nomi-
e for the presidency, has written
an article for Golfers Weekly on my
Conception of the Presidency" 1t
reads as follows:
"The presidents power for good or
government is a government Of checks
and balances. Power is distributed
among different departments, and each
official works in cooperation with 9th
ers. In the making of laws, for In
stance, the president Joins with the
senate and the house. He may rec
Ommend, but he is powerless to legis-
late except as a majority Of the SEN
ate and the house oncur with him.
The senate and the house are also in
dependent of each other, each having
a veto over the other, and the presi-
dent has a veto yer both, except that
the senate and house can by q two
thirds vote override the presidents
veto. The influence Of the president
over legislation Is therefore limited.
He shares responsibility with a large
number Of the peoples representatives.
"Even in the enforcement Of law he
is hedged about by restrictions. He
acts through an attorney general, whose
appointment must be approved by the
senate, and offenders against the law
must be prosecuted in the courts, so
that here, again, the responsibility is
divided. In the making Of important
appointments. too, he must consult the
senate and is of necessity compelled
most important requisite in q presi-
dent, as in other officials, Is that his
sympathy shall be with the whole peo-
pie rather than with my fraction Of
the population. He is constantly called
upon to act in the capacity of a Judge,
deciding between the opportunities
Of those who seek favors and the
rights and interests Of the public. Un-
less his sympathies are right the few
are sure to have an advantage over
the many, for the masses have no one
to present their claims. They act only
at elections and must trust to their
representatives to protect them from
all their foes.
"The president must have a broad
knowledge of public questions and the
ability to discern between the true and
the false. He must be able to analyze
conditions and to detect the sophis-
tries that are always employed by
those who seek unfair advantages. He
must possess the moral courage to
stand against the influences that are
brought to bear in favor of special in
~terests. In fact, the quality Of moral
courage IS as essential in 4 public Of
trained mind.
"a president must have counselors,
and to make wise use Of counselors
he must be open to convictions. The
president Is committed by his platform
to certain policies. and the platform
Is binding. He is also committed to
certain principles Of government. and
these he is in duty bound to apply In
NIL matters that cOIne before him. But
there Is a wide zone in which he must
act upon his own Judgment, and here
he ought to have the aid of intelli-
gent, conscientious and faithful adj
visers. The law provides these, to a
certain extent, in giving him n cab
met, and the vice president ought to
be made a member Of the cabinet ex
oficio. in order, first, that the presi-
dent may have the benefit Of his wis
dom and knowledge of affairs and,
second. that the vice president may
be better prepared to take up the work
Of the president In case of a vacancy
in the presidential office. There ought
to be cordial relations also between
the president and those who occupy
positions Of influence In the co-ordi-
nate branches Of the government. for
our government Is not n n man gov
eminent, but a government in which
the chosen representatives Of the peo-
pie labor together to give expression
to the will of tho voters.
but the presidency is the highest
position in the world, and its occu-
pant is an important factor in all ma
a. ~ AO 40 " NNN'tlL bC
lever In our theory Of government,
recognizes the constitutional distribu-
ton Of powers, trusts thoroughly in
the people and fully sympathizes with
them in their aspirations and hopes.
he has an opportunity to do n splendid
work. He occupies Il vantage ground
from which he can exert Il wholesome
influence in favor Of each forward
movement.
1.-THE responsibilities Of the office are
so great that the occupant ought to be
relieved Of every personal ambition,
save the ambition to prove worthy Of
the confidence Of his c%ountrymen. For
this reason he ought to enter the posi-
ton without thought or prospect Of a
second term.
while the burdens Of such an Of
fee are heavy and while the labors Of
the office are exacting and %exhausting.