The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-08-17
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.

government
based upon the fact that the people
are supreme. The claim that the
people of a sovereign state are not
competent to declare their will in an
and shining. The people of the nation
have been too busy to waste time
upon so revolutionary and preposter-
GUS an assumption. The Congress
passed the Arizona statehood bill, re-
call of judges and all. The able
lawyers in Congress, even those op-
posed to recalling judges, felt that it
would be much better to bury their
opposition, than to tempt fate in the
persons of their constituents by an
action that would mean to the afore
: said constituents only one thing, that
: their man in Congress had repudiated
the doctrine that the people are SUI
preme.
Fools run where angels dare not
tread, says the old saw. And ap
plies to the Taft veto of the state
hood bill. although the president is
not a fool and congressman and sem
: ators are not angels.
How shall we account for an ac-
ton SO radical upon the part of
president? why did he do what Con-
gress dared not do?
The president is 2 man of courage
and Of convictions, but like all men.
he is subject to the influences of early
!. training and environment. The key to
the presidents mind must be sought
In the fact that he is by experience
and training not statesman, but
lawyer and Judge. Moreover he is
an exceedingly conscientious man. 1t
in usual for men to magnify the func-
and the president, having been a
Judge, il subject to the belief that
Judges ought to occupy a more i'm
portant and different position in the
governmental structure than the
fathers intended, or the people will
permit. -
Following these absolutely sincere
beliefs the presidential veto is fore
gone conclusion, thoroughly explain
ed. Sc sS3
1t will be found that the extreme
ccnscientiousness of the president and
his devotion to what he deems duty
will in this case prove costly. to his
chance of being reelected.
Moreover it is the second time that
the president has thrust himself into
an ardent denial of the doctrine that
the people are sovereign.
The first occasion was when he en-
tered Arizona to plead with the peo-
pie not to include the initiative and
referendum in the constitution they
were about to make.
Ten states had at this time adopt
ed these principles into organic law.
Some of the feeling to which the
president will be subjected in the
west by reason of his veto and oppo-
sition to the initiative and referen-
that since the Arizona speech the
legislatures of eight states have adopt
ed initiative and referendum amend
ments which are to be submitted to
the celebrates. These states are
California, Washington, wyoming,
North Dakota, Nebraska, Florida,
Idaho and Wisconsin.
The presidents devotion to his
ideals in the face of such facts in
spires admiration by it's very hope
lessness. His is the spirit that clings
to the Bourbons decades after the Re-
public is installed; his the attitude
of the man who will ride by coach in
stead of train as long as coach and
pair can be had; his the romanticism
of the devoteee who will not cut his
hair until an impossible candidate is
chosen to an impossible office.
The presidents action is magnifi-
cent, but it is not progress. 1t is
not even good Bourbon craftsmanship
1t is sheer political suicide, a useless
sacrifice to a propaganda that never
had show.