Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-04-12
A Woodrow Wilson Speech

oct such exposure and criticism as
would almcs, inevitably defeat o.
These circumstance are not often
consciously and distinctly analysed by
the mass OF voters. hut undoubtedly
the great body OF our citizens is
vaguely conscious Of them and they
lie at the basis Of a great deal OF
the dlstrust and uneasiness which is
felt when our legislatures are Do ses-
sion The great thing 20 Boz desired
In this. as In all other matters -
government. is publicity There is
no more reason whv committee Uee--
ings. where important public met
tiers are handled. should Doe private
than that legislative sessions .hem-
selves should be- private 70 lesisla-
lion Is In fact accomplished Boz CONF
mittces. committees should uc pua...
and NOT private Instruwcn'aIIties
New Role Thrust on Executive.
ln the meantime wo witness very
interesting thing tho whole .1lu-
Try. since o. can not doriphc .ue
methods o. i's legislation. Is clamor-
ing for leadership. and uea role,
which 20 many persons seems IIr'n
less than uuconstItufioua. s thrust
upon our executives. The people are
inpatient OF a president Who W.Il nor
formulate policy and insist .IIn t-
adoption They are muauen. oI o.
governor who will not exercise eu'r-
eptic leadership. who win not mako
bis appeals directly O. public oF.L-
ION and insist that the dictates OF
public opinion bc carried ont in deli-
mite legal reforms OF his own sug-
gcsil0n ] say that this seems fo
many persons little less than uuc0n
stltutional, because our people have
+ been very deeply indocirinated with
the idea that our legislative and cN-
ecutlye branches Of government
should take punctllious care not "a
interfere with one another Il Is
considered something more than a
breach of propriety for the executive
10 dictate to tho legislative branch
Of the government and yet this scru-
pie Is undoubtedly based upon an &C.
nOranCe of our actual constitutional
provisions Almost every state con
siitution not only gives the prcsi.
dent the right 10 send messages 20
the legislature expressing his yiews
upon public matters 200 any way he
plcasos. but also. like the federal con-
stlution. gives him the right 10 rec.
ommond measures without nam.
Ing or RESTRICTING the form iu which
his recommendation of measures
shall bee made 70 seems perfectly
clear that II Is the explicit prcroga.
tive of practically every American
executive 10 recommend measures i
be- pleases. IN the form of bills. II
is no presumption on bis part there
fore. and mo- invasion of the rights OF
any other branch Of the government
% be- press bis views In any form
that hc plcases upon the hwmakin-
body
Moreover. he is the only rcprcsen
iatlye of the whole people of the
state. as the president Is the oul'
representative Of the whole people o
The country He Is made part o
the legislative branch Of the govern
mcnt by his power 10 veto, aud there
are no necessary limitations upon
his exercise of his influence except
the limitations of sincerity and hon
csty. The people are quick to con
denim and are right IN coudemninQ
any exercise on his part of improper
influence Of any kind. whether
through appointments 10 office or IN
any other way. But they desire and
are quick 10 applaud every effort
that he NAV make 10 act as then
spokesman and representative and
IFNNff III lNf NNNflAiN w h''Ffiiit
legislative reform and TO push for
ward the slow business ~ progress
80 doubt the present unusual
prominence and influence of or'
state and federal executives Is due "a
an effort perhaps unconscious. &,
give our system of government thai
which IL has lacked. namely some
central force. some process of sug.
ec-tiou and leadership which wiI. off
500 t.r confusion and secrecy of QUA
legislative methods lm-wH.. as O
s u.,t to impossible Zoo determine
who s running One legislature from
,.ne inside. there is au instructive dc
. sire chat thor, should bo some fore,
, directing and leading O. from th.
! outside. some force which shall D.,
, obvious and therefore responsible
: open Co tho view of everybody an,
, subject only 90 the restraint OF pub
0 d, opinion Public opinion must D.!
% hook or crook get into o. througl
b. .ommittee rooms 1t may possibly &c
b into % through executive leadership
q MiStrust Of Legislatures.