The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-18
HIS POWER
IN NAME
ABSOLUTE.
BUT IN REALITY ENG
LANDS KING is MOSTLY
ORNAMENTAL
VETO NOT USED SINCE
DAYS OF QUEEN ANNE
How GTeat Britain Is a De.
mocTaey With a Royal
Imagination

II IS commonly supposed that the
influence of royalty is incompatible
with the spread of Democratic ideas,
the increasing power Of the press and
the extension Of political rights. This
supposition is hardly borne out by the
more recent Developments of history.
The prestige which George V. inherits
IN 1870 is infinitely greater than that
which George Nv left behind him in
1880.
In theory, to be sure, the king Is
sill as absolute as was his ancestor,
! William the Conquefer. In theory he
Is still the legislative head Of the ma
tion. Parliament is ostensibly his
great council which he summons to
deliberate with him on the affaiis OF
tho nation No bill, even though it
has passed both the House Of Com
mons and the House df Lords, can be
soome an act OF Parliament without
/ his royal assent If il true that til.
ksng rarely exercises The veto power
which nominally resides within him
No English monarch has exercised i
since Queen Anne refused to sign
Scotch militia bill il is safe to sas
that the veto power Is morbund. II
cannot be described as dead Iheo
rnlically. again the King Of Englont
Iis the executive head OF the nation
lgoveruing through migiste $.
4 Divinity Doth Hedge Film
In aCcordancc with the Old legal fit
ton that the king n do no wroft
HE personally cannot be held respol
sihle for any crime which il mieh
+ suit him TO commit The respons
+ hility for any injury SO inflicted upo
3 subject must be shouldcrcd by tn
: kings advisers, Upon no pfetens
t nay he himself be arrested or III
D Goods be ditraiucd or taken into eN'
5 cution AS the king is assumed
{ he impcccable and omnisciert, S
likewise he is assumed TO eb omnipre
cnt Theoretically he Is with ever
court of Justice at every sitting. III
h bodily presence may be reported
l. windsor, or Paris, or where not leg
S fiction insists that he was at the Ia
It courts in the Strand and with ever
r indge holding court OF ASST
e throughout the country ConstrucllV
Il ly, also, the king is present at ever
Q sitting of Pagliament Yet he cann'
'. appear there In the body save whe
lie comes in state to the House
Lords for the exercise of his pferos
tive of opening and prorogulng ia
lament. or when his presence Is nee
Z ed for the purpose OF giving royal a
D sent to the bills which custom pra
y Hcally forbids him TO veto.
King Edward was never present
,he House of Commons after
l. mounted the throne. King Geor'
win initiate his father, as the latt
Initiated his mother, Queen Victorl
! IN chewing tacit prohibition
= Crimes To Speak OF Royal views
y In both houses it is a breach OF
y der to mention the name OF the So
=, creign with view Of affecting leg
y, a. lation. So far back as December.
i" 1888. the House of Commons resolve
v that Ito report any opinion or pl
tended opinion of his majesty up'
nuy bill or other proceeding depen
n ing in either House of Parllame
i with view TO Influence the votes
- members Is high crime and misc
neanor derogatory to the honor
:. ihe crown, a breach Of the fundamel
= 'al privileges of Parliament and su