New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-17

10 the modern haDit, anu Just IN,
that though / am conserVStNe a,,y @
NOT a reactionarv 1 venture the suBseos
ton that il would aid the eIncIenOs "a
the Executive and centre ms eISL s +; &C in
attention and that Of ms suDoti uji,fftin
the latter part of his admlii tsI a r In
rIpon what Is a purely disintereste1 PuIT
uC service If he were mace ileiIb $50
after serving one. term OF 81 ,ssocu.
either to a succeeding or hoh-SoiS'0
am a little specific in this matter Dc,
causa II seems necessary TO De SO III
order TO be understood. l don Cale NV
unambitious or modest Pfesluens 70
dnnif cars how determined he Is that ne
himself will not secure his renoillI,ll'o
(and there are very rev. lhoeSu, G,Io tSs
10 that extent, still his suoorqlim"' 20,
equally interested with him IN ms -
election. will, wheney3r they have the o o.;
port1nity. exert thefN influence anu VI
vide their time between the puDNJ rs
vice and the effort to secure ttlF C' 5efs
denomination and reelection; ~ Is HtilI
cnIt m Dreyent the whole administrator
from losing a part OF Its enectlVeiiess 10
the public good by this aversion 70 PVft,
cal effort for at least year OF tne IoIi
OF each administration We're inns IlauD
impossible by law, l can see no rea tS.
why the energy of the President ana lIa'
OF all his subordinates might not ne uls
rected rather to making SoOu reCoIu VI
efficiency in the first ana ohly Term t ,,Sr
in seeking a second term foF that puI-
One Term of Six Years.
Four years is rather short time in
which to work out great governmental
policies Six years is better. &.
Another suggestion / would make -
that legislative steps be taken lol lhs!S
is nothing in the Constitution 70 IoIDIu
Il, bringing more closely tosSthgL . tt!e
operation of the executive ana leslsIaI1S
branches The studied effort IN Whlch
10 maintain these branches. rlgidly sep,
arate is / think, a mistake. l "oWu
not add any more actual power 10 wv
Executive in legislative matters nUs
would / give the legislative any more
actual power IN executive powers. Inc
veto on the one hand and the conurna
ton of appointments and the rauIiSalul.
of treaties. on the other "ou'u i'0'
change. -,
But it does seem 10 me that they need
not be at arms length, as they no" az
under our present system. IL mas pstn
proposed twice IN our history after lnt
fullest consideration by some or tht
wisest statesmen we have ever mao, "
pass a law giving TO edch dtpat IihvhS
head q seat In the Senate ana IN {h'
House and a. right to enter into tne as
cusson of the proposed ltSlsldloN J"
either of the national legislative poults.
This would keep Congress muSii Oel'Tt
informed as to the actual cOncluQIls ~
the executive departments. II would Keep
the department heads on the qul WV
with reference 10 their knowledge OF lutI'
own departments and their aDlnty 10 an
II would necessitate the appointment TO
the Cabinet OF men used 10 DEBATE dII
10 defend their positions, ard IL Woulu
offer an opportunity for the public 10
Judge of the Executive and his govern
ment much more justly and much NOR
quickly than under our present system,
The rules Of the two houses, as l am
advised, forbid the use OF ABUSIVE nan
Ruage by one member against another,
and by the member of one house asalnst
NRl \
somewhat close examination of the rules,
however. of both houses does not snow
that there is any Limitation upon the
parliamentary character OF the langua5e
which may be directed against the Presi-
dent. As TO him, the members pursue
their own sweet will. and that sometimes
leads them into language and epithetical
description of the Chief Executive that
could hardly be called complimentary.
Would Facilitate Legislation.
II members of the Cabinet were allowed
the floor their very presence would suS-
Gest, in the possibility of reply, modera-
ton in discussing the administration
which does not now at all times prevail
The strongest reason for advocating TINS
change, however, is that the influence
that the Executive shall have In shaping
legislation shall be more in harmony
with the responsibility that the people
hold him &c In respect TO IT. He is the
head Of the party that elected him, ana as
such, II Congress is controlled by the
same political party, as it generally is,
he is looked 70 to shape the Congressional
policy and to secure the passage Of the
statutes which the party platform has
promised. New with such burden on
him, he ought TO have greater means
Of bringing about what he wishes in the
character OF the legislation 70 be cOnsid-
cred by Congress and greater powers OF
persuasion TO secure the adoption Of such
legislation than those which the mere
right to send messages and the mere
uOrt1 M nf ngTGnnql
leading members Of the House and Sen
ate give him.
/ doubt not that the presence of able
Cabinet officers on the floor OF cdCn
House would give greater harmony OF
plan for the conduct of public business in
both houses. and would secure much
more valuable legislation in ACCORDANCE
with party plans than we have now. on
the other hand, the system would enable
Congress TO come closer TO the Executive
and pry more effectively into each act
and compel disclosure OF the reasons
justifying il Immediately at the time Of
the act, and keep the public more quickly
advised by the direct questions Of hostile
critics. which must be answered, Of the
progress of business under Executive aus
pices.
Evils of Unjust Criticism.
One of the results of my observation
in the Presidency is that the position Is
not a place TO be enjoyed by sensitive
man.
The experience in the Presidency tough
ems the hide OF the occupant so as TO en-
able him to resist the stings OF criticism
directed against him from the time he
takes Office until he lays II down. a
query arises in respect 70 criticisms and
attacks that are made without the slight
est reference 10 facts, and merely for
the purpose OF invoking popular opposi-
ton and distrust, and with the hope that
by constant repetition they can escape
any possible refutation. l don't know
this administration than In q previous
administration. All l know lie that IL
was my first experience and that 1t
seemed TO me as II ] had been more
greatly tried than most Presidents by
such methods.
The result in some respects Is unfortu-
nate in that after one or two efforts 20
meet the unfounded accusations despair
in the matter leads to indifference. and
perhaps TO an indifference toward both
jist and unjust criticism. This condi-
doubt If II makes him a better Presi-
dent OF course, the reassuring formula
that history viii right one and will give
one his Just need of praise Is consolatory,
but II Is not altogether satisfactory, be-
cause the thought suggests itself that the
time for remedying the injustice may be
postponed until one is gathered 10 his
fathers and when he is not then particu-
larly fDterested in earthly history or mum
dane affairs.
] think the period for successful muck
raking is gradually drawing TO close.
] hope so. We must consider that the
ebulllti9n in undertaking literature is only
one Of the temporary excuses OF the times