The Mena weekly star., 1912-05-16
THE PEOPLE AND PRESlDEN-
thai. NOMINATIONS.

llftical action Of the American cit-
izen, The Review Of Reviews says
1 This, then, is q concrete illusira-
ton OF the power of one man I'M
oaf national affairs. The TIVE
4 branches Of ihe laW-making body
1 had made substantial and valuable
lrevisi0ns Of important parts Of the
tarifT ia 4 series Of bills. Il had mol
been supposed by the Trainers Of
the constitution that III matters of
this kind a president would take It.
upon himself to use The veto power.
Mr.. Tafl's argument was that sew
eral men had been designated by
him to look up tariff facts, and
that he preferred to wait for their
conclusions. But these officials had
not been authorized by law to make
such Investigations. Furthermore,
1 it is obvious that the results Of
THEIR inquiries, if valuable, would
in any case have to be used by con-
gress and not by the president. Is
lit strange--in view Of matters OF
such far-reaching Importance as
this-that the whole people Of the
country wish to select the man
who, when once chosen president,
may decide that he will act as their
arbitrary ruler rather than as their
servant? II was, indeed, within
Mr.. Tafts constitutional power TO
veto the tariff bills. But it takes a
very wise man TO know how to use
such a discretion.
Illinois and Pennsylvania.
The great lessons of the Illinois
and Pennsylvania primaries swept
across the country with in inn
pressiveness that was solemn and
magnificent 1t is possible to in
terpret what happened without ref
erence to mere individuals. II all
means that this country has wit
messed FOR THE LAST TIME the
deliberate attempt OF president
of the United States to renominate
himself by the use of patronage
and power in the southern states,
and by bargains and alliances with
bosses and machines in the north
ern states. Hereafter, president
who wishes a second term will have
TO put himself in the hands of the
lpeople. He will have to announce,
in his first term, that he will ae-
cept another term only as the peo-
pie choose to confer it upon him.
He will forbid any man to say to
him anythin~ about delegates or
conventions" He will do his duty
as president, and accept the con-
sequences. The party bosses will
not be able to conspire against him,
because the people in their presi-
dental primaries will support him
if they want him. He will cease TO
rest upon the preposterous assump-
ton that because he has given one
term he is therefor entitled to an
other.
4 Vision of the Near Future.
Some Of The most conspicuous
lpublic men who for reasons of poll
ities are among the Taft leaders
at Washington. have repeatedly
said in private that within a very
few years not only would the at
tempt of president to renominate
himself By the use Of power be re-
garded as uniting, but would lead
inevitably to impeachment pro-
ceedings. Hereafter. if a president
is to have a denomination he will
have to get it as the Honorable
Jonathan Bourne is dealing with
his Oregon constituents. Mr.. Bourne
is working with diligence and in
dustry at his job as a United States
senator. He has informed the peo-
Iple of Oregon that they ought to
know their own minds, and that If
they wish to continue him as sem
ator they can say so in their pri-
mary election. But if it is fitting
for United States senator to take
this course, it is vastly more in
cumDent upon a president to keep
hands off. And this is for a very
obvious reason. The senator has
no executive power and he is far
away from his state. where his
enemies might conspire against
him. But a president has colossal
executive power; and if he uses it
all to re-elect himself he becomes
reckless in his quest, and before he
knows It his methods become indie
feasible The country owes it to
the man IL places III the White
House that he should be relieved of
temptation, The presidential pFi-
mary will afford this relief. II
Senator Cummins bin should be
lpassed, we would AZ once have a
fur and just presidential primary
for the whole country. This would
remove from the president the in
| duecmeni lo use patronage impr0p-
| erly. or 10 make bargains with
bosses. Il would enable him 20 de-
vote his time and talent 70 tho work
Ief his Office. instead 81 giving 4
great part of il 10 politics.
High Principles II Stake.
The principles involved are Of
Imuch moro importance Than any
Individuals II TIA Republican sai-
sns wash to renofn'aaic NJ. Taft
they ouehl l. have 8 chance a. ex-
press lher alA Il lhes As nal
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