New-York tribune., 1908-08-24
KERN'S PLATITUDES.
He Talks of Presidency in Deeply Sol
emn Words

John n. Kern, in Golfers Weekly for August ..
i has been rather fiippant jest for many dec
ades that the Nice-Presiuency has ceased TO be a
position of influence and OF high honor. Mr.. Bryan
has answered this in his speeches and in his writ
that in his ndgment 5 4he resident at should be
rneTnher ~ the Toresf1enT.s o4fcisI family and
5at Sat a. me Csbi1et "a bin I 1ressenfs
the past have influenced legislation largely, but
usually by indirection NV own conception OF the
duties of any public official is mat the influence he
exerts should be direct open, obvious and known 10
presiding officer the Senate. with. of course. the
opportunity TO invite Senators into his room and
suggest to them the views he may have upon
pending legislation, he becomes very close TO a
mere lobbyist
II by the friendship by the political convictions
Of the President he is put in position in which he
Is able TO come out INTO me open SPEAK as IIalky
as ms chlef speaks, and exert upon leGlsIaIoh
openly and avowedly much influence IS any
member OF the Cabinet may his office IS raised 10
the dignity which was the original understanding
Of the trainers Of the Constitution that II should
possess
am Of course estopped by the proprieties of the
occasion from going into any detail concerning the
ing President. either through the death OF his
leader or by subsequent election But do believe
shoI1Id ne frankIV Wiling TO express his views CON
cernng the duties and obligations OF the PTesi-
This nation has known many ice-Presidents who
ultimately succeeded to the first office think 1t
may be said that nearly all Of them attained 10
that high sense of responsibility which the Presi-
unless there shall be close and friendly relations
with the occupant Of the White House, furnishes
little opportunity for the development Of a wide
knowledge Of public men and public affalrs; II
there is this cooperation the long stretch Of Penn
sylvania avenue from Capitol Hin TO the White
House VIII be politically and intellectually very
much abridged
But Just exactly the Vice-Pres-dent is really
the servant and not the master OF the Senate so 40
I believe that the President himself is not to pc,
nor TO attempt 10 be, the master OF Congress 1hls
government OF ours is a representative government
II Is not TO be dominated in legislative depart
ne1t by the hard hand OF the presiding officer. nor
in both legislative departments by the determined
use bv the President of the power OF patronage
NV conception OF the Presidency. II II be proper
for me to express II here is that ii should remain
s the Constitution declared il should be. distinctly
an executive office. Let Congress make the laws
without being Influenced coerced by any sort or
Fxecutye interference other than the recomTleHoa-
tions and suggestions in his messages which are
rroI-ided for I'm the Constitution. Let the courts
constrIe those laws with reference 70 their consti
+utionalty Then let the President, the CHIEF Ez-
ecutive of the nation. administer and enforce those
laws whether they appeal to his own personal
nratIJdces or otherwise, but without enort 10 crlu
se either the Congress of the United States or the
rorrts of the United States.
The conception Of the duties and obligations or
The presidency which any man. whether q candi-
5s+e for federal office otherwise. can readiiy
form, for himself be found in the Constitution
Of the United States. which is at no point more more
eYrIict than its definition OF the dutles OF DUN
President and ice-PreSident.