Arizona republican., 1911-06-28

| sponsibility of the cabinet to the people. The Canadian premier and
 his collea gues in the cabinet hold of
 flee only so long as they have ma | iOrity in the house of representatives ! the members of the cabinet are also
 members of the house, so that Gas in | England and France) they are com pelled to meet the representatives
 of the people face to face and on the floor of the house explain and de-
 fend the various policies of the ad-
 ministration
 Senator Beveridge finds much to
 commend and nothing to condemn in
 the Canadian system. And certainly ! it is true, as he implies. that it would | be an improvement upon our system if our members of the cabinet Were also members of the popular house
 of congress and had to explain and defend on the floor of the house all the plans and policies of the admin istration The fathers of the repub-
 lie were so careful in devisng sundry checks and balances to provide against mistaken impulses of the people that as result the govern
 ment is not quickly responsive to
 the popular will Thus. although the
 democrats at the election of last No
 vemher carried the country by
 great majority and elected two- thirds
 of the popular branch of congress.
 they made little headWay. practically
 toward getting control of the govern
 ment, for confronting them is the
 republican senate. elected in former
 years Ga legislative body having
 powers coordinate with the house), and republican president, elected at a former election and armed with
 the power of veto.
 Under the Canadian system Presi- dent Taft, Immediately following the November election. would have ac- cepted the resignation of his cabinet and would have invited the leaders of the democratic party to name from their party the new members of the cabinet.
 It is well to remember, however, that this system has its weak fea- lures. as has been demonstrated in France It works well in Canada, because there are but two great par ties in Canada. and it would work satisfactorily in the United States. so long as we had but two great parties. In France parties in parlia- ment are broken up into q dozen or more groups. and every time there Is a coalition of groups against the l government strong enough to mus ter a majority against the govern | ment. the cabinet falls Only day | or two ago the French cabinet re- signed after holding office only ninety | days The policies of government | are changed so frequently in France | because of the constantly shifting ma jorities created by this or that petty issue raised in parliament that the prestige of the French nation is made to suffer The French govern ment lacks dignity in the eyes of the world And the tendency of parties in England is to break up into threatening the stability Of the government. Indeed. Premier As luith now retains control of the gov -rnment only because of his success in maintaining d coalition against the forces. The Irish and labor parties could throw the liberal government out of office any day by voting with the conservatives.
 IL appears. therefore. that while it would be a good thing if the mem ,ers of the American cabinet had to ,it in congress as members of that body. it does not follow that it would be a change for the better to Unfit the control of government in esponse to every adverse vote in congress.