Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1909-03-12

iAOu VI pIdCIlCdl1y dDSO1AIS duIaOI1Iy
in the speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives. The speaker moreover, is
elected Indirectly. He is removed
from the people. They can and do ex.
ercise very little influence in his sell
ection. Not being responsible to the
people, the speaker feels little pres
sure from them, and dictates the
course of the house irrespective of
their demands. 1t is no wonder that
the speaker checks progressive bills,
maintains a 'do-nothing' policy, and
defies the president and public opinion.
He knows that the people have no
chance to select or suggest more de-
sirable men for the position. The re-
suit is that the house is not the orr
ginator Of popular bills that it should
be; 1t is not leader; so far as results
are concerned, it has become conserva-
tive. If it is necessary that the speak
er have unlimited authority, the pur-
pose for which the house exists de-
mands that the speaker be responsible
to the people. j.;
A second situation was brought to
the. public attention by the work Of:
the recent conventions. The vice pres
ident should be the most capable of
succeeding to the presidency in event
of a vacancy. A glance at the two
tickets last year reveals vice-presiden-
tial candidates whom no one would
ever have suggested for the presi-
dency. No one knows that either is
willing or able to execute the policies
of his chief. Yet one of these men
may. later be president. The cause for
this lies in the unimportance' Of the dui-
ties Of the vice-president. Men Of
presidential calibre can rarely be in
duced to run for the office of vice
president. Moreover, the people do
not care who presides over the senate,
and give no attention to the selection
of candidates. Parties, consequently,
do not call out their strongest men;
the selection, as a rule, being COM
promise, is an utter disregard of the
fact that the vice-president should be
capable of filling the presidential chair.
The inconsistency of the present ar
rangement can be summed up thus:
in the 'direct" house the speaker is
chosen indirectly, and thus the very
purpose for which the house exists is
defeated; in the, indirect senate the
chairman is elected directly by the
people, but the insignffcance OF his
duties defeats the primary object OF
his popular, direct election, viz: the
selection of the man most capable of
succession to the presidency. !.
The question arises, why not remedy
both situations by making the vice.
president speaker of>Sthe house? This
would necessitate the selection of a
chairman Of the: senate by that body;
but this would not alter the nature OF
its work in the slightest. Such a
change, however, would make the
house truly 7 popular! The speake,
would be responsible to the country al
large for the legislation Of the admin
istration. He would be directly in
fiuenced by popular demands; and
would lead the house accordingly. He
would encourage ;. progressive ideas
rather than obstruct them. He would
work in harmony with the president
rather than force the latter to a policy
OF driving congress; and the fear o.
tyrannical exec utive would subside