The Washington herald., 1908-07-14

New York, July I3.-Corier's Weekly
Will print this week under the heading.
MY conception OF the Presidency the
following by William J. Bryan:
Tho Presidents power for good or for
harm Is often overestimated. Our gov
ernment is a government OF checks and
balances; power is distributed among dr-
ferent departments. and each official
works In cooperation with others. In the
making OF laws. for instance, the Presi-
dent Joins With the Senate and the
House: he may recommend, but he is
powerless 10 legislate. except as a ma
jority OF the Senate and the House con-
cur with him. The Senate and the House
are also independent Of each other. each
having a veto over the other. and the
President has veto over both. except
that the Senate and the House can, by a
two-thirds vote. override the Presidents
veto. The influence cf the President over
legislation is. therefore. limited, and he
shares responsibility with large number
Of the peoples representatives.
Hedged About by RestrictIOns.
Even in the enforcement OF law he Is
hedged about by restrictions. He acts
through an Attorney General Cwhose ap-
pointment must be approved by the Sen
ate). and offenders against the law must
bo prosecuted IN the courts. so that here
again the responsibility is divided In
the making Of important appointments,
too, ne must consult the Senate. and is, OF
necessity, compelled TO exercise care and
discretion.
The most important requisite in Pres
ident as in other officials. Is that his
sympathy shall be with the whole people.
rather than with any fraction Of the pop
ulation- lie is constantly called upon TO
&C, in the capacity Of judge-deciding
between the opportunities Of those who
seek favors and the rights and interests
of the public Unless his sympathies ARE
right the few are sure TO have an ad-
vantage over the many, for the masses
have no one to present their claims They
act only at elections, and must trust 20
their representatives to protect them from
ali foes.
Second. the President must have 2
knowledge Of public questions and the
ability 10 discern between the true and
the false, he must be able 70 analyze
conditions and 20 detect the sophistries
that are always employed by those who
seek unfair advantages
He must possess the moral courage
20 stand against the influences that are
brought to bear in favor OF special In
terests. In fact the quality Of courage
IS as essential in a public official as
either right sympathies or a trained
mind
Must BE Open to Conviction.
"A President must have counselors. and
70 make wise use OF counselors. he mus,
be open 20 conviction. The President
IS committed by his platform to certain
policies. and the platform is binding; he
IS also committed 10 certain principles
Of government. and these he IS I'm dutv
bound 70 apply In all matters that come
before him. But there is a wide zone IN
which he must act upon his own iudg-
met and here he ought 10 have the aid
OF intelligent conscientious, and faithful
advisers
THE law provides these 10 a certain ex-
tent. In giving him Cabinet and the
Vice President ought 70 be made a men,
ber Of the Cabinet ex-ofilcio, IN order
first. that the President may have the
benefit of his wisdom and knowledge OF
affairs, and, second that the Vice Presi.
dent may be better prepared to take NJ
the work Of the President and those who
occupy positions OF influence IN the CO.
ordinate branches Of the government. fol
our government is not n one-man govern
ment, but government IN which tn,
chosen representatives Of the peopl,
labor together 20 give expression 20 tht
will Of the voters.
But the Presidency is the highest DO
Sition IN the world, and its occupant 1.
an important factor IN all national mat
ters II he Is a devOut believer in on
theory Of government, recognizes the con
sttutlonal distribution OF powers. trusts
thoroughly IN the people and fully sym
pathizes with them IN their aspiration,
and hopes, he has an opportunity TO d
a splendid work: he occupies a vantag
ground from which he can exert a whole
some influence in favor Of each forward
movement
should Have No Second Term.
The responsibilities OF the office are 81
great that the occupant ought TO be re
lieved Of every personal ambition, saw,
the ambition to prove worthy OF the car
OF his countrymen. For this reason h,
ought to enter the position withou
thought or prospect OF a second term.
While the burdens Of such an office ar
heavy, and while the labors of the oac,
are exacting and exhausting. the field o
service is large. and, measuring great
ness by service, a President. by conse
Grating himself to the public veal. cal
make himself secure in the affections o
his fellow-citizens while he lives an,
create for himself a permanent place II
his nations history. W. J. BRYAN.