The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-14
As BRYAN VIE VS.
THE OFFICE OF
PRESIDENT
coMMoNER SETS FORTH IN COL
LlER's THE MAIN REQUISITES
WOULD COOPERATE WITH
GOVERNMENTS BRANCHES.

NEW lOhh, July "a VI! SOhSeP
ton Of the presidency" is set forth
by VIM. Jennings Bryan. Democratic
nominee for president in the current
issue OF Golfers Weekly. He says.
in part:
The presidents power for good or
for harm is often over-estimated Our
government Is a government OF checks
and balances: power is distributed
among different departments and each
official works in cooperation with 9th
erS.
In making the laws. for instance.
the president joins with the senate
and the house; be may recommend.
but he is powerless 10 legislate. ex.
cept as a majority OF the senate and
the house concur with him. The SEN
ate and the house are also indepen-
dent Of each other, each having a We
TO over the other. and the president
has a veto over both; except that the
senate, and the house can. by two
third vote override the presidents ye-
to. The influence OF the president over
legislation is. therefore. limited he
shares responsibility with large
number OF peoples representatives.
Even in the enforcement OF law
he is hedged about by restrictions.
He acts through an attorney general
whose appointment must be approx
I'd by the senate) and offenders
against the law must be prosecuted
in the courts, so that here again the
responsibility is divided.
Must Consult the Senate.
In the making OF important ap
pointments too. he must consult the
senate. and is, OF necessity. compelled
TO exercise care and discretion. The
most important requisite In q presi-
dent, as in other officials, Is that his
sympathy shall be with the whole
people. rather than with any faction
OF the people. He Is constantly call
ed upon 10 act in the capacity OF a
judge-deciding between the importu-
mites OF those who seek favors and
the rights and interests OF the pub
lie
Unless his sympathies are right.
the few are sure TO have an advant-
over the many. for the masses have
no one 10 present their election claims.
They act only at elections; and must
trust TO their representatives To pro-
tect them from all their foes.
Second the president must have
a knowledge OF public questions and
the ability 10 discern between the
true and the false: he must be able
to analyze the conditions and TO de-
tect the sophistries that are always
employed by those who seek unfair
advantages.
Must Have Moral Courage.
He must possess the moral cour-
age 10 stand against the influences
that are brought 10 bear in favor OF
special interests. In fact, the quality
OF moral courage Is as essential In
public official as either right sympa
thies or a A.ained mind
a president must have counsel
ors, and. to make wise use of coun
sellers, he must be open TO convic-
tons. The president Is committed by
his platform 10 certain policies and
the platform is binding; he is also
committed TO certain principles OF gov
eminent. and these he Is In duty
bound to apply In all matters that
come before him.
But there Is 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 cab !
met, and the vice-president ought TO
be made a member OF the cabinet ex-
officio 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.
Relations with subordinates.
"Thore ought 10 be cordial relations !
also between the president and those |
who occupy positions Of influence in
the coordinate branches Of the gov !
eminent, for our government Is not
a one-man government, but a govern |.
ment IN which the chosen representa-. |
lives OF the people labor together TO !
give expression TO the will OF the !
voters.
but the presidency Is the highest
position In the world. and It's occupant
Is an important factor In all national
matters. II he IL a deyout believer
in our theory OF government recog.
nizes the constitutional distribution
OF powers. trusts thoroughly in the
people and fully sympathizes with
them In their aspirations and hopes,
ne has an opportunity to do splen.
did work; he occupies vantage
ground from which he can exert a
wholesome influence In favor OF each
forward movement
Single Term Enough.
The responsibilities OF the Office
are so great that the occupant ought
10 be relieved OF every personal am
oition, save the ambition to prove
worthy OF the confidence OF his coun.
trymen: for this reason. he ought TO
enter the position without thought or
prospect OF second term.
While the burdens Of such an OF.
fee are heavy. and while the labors
OF the Office are exacting and exhaust
ing, the field OF service Is large. and.
measuring It's greatness by service.
president. by consecrating\ himself to
the public veal, can make himself Sc
cure In the affections OF his fellow
citizens while he lives and create for
himself a permanent place In the ma
tons history" Il