The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-17

I tOntlnueu from rage One.b
tinguished and patriotic gentleman who
is to be-and he raised his glass while
his hearers rose to their feet-"the next
President of the United States"
The Presidents Speech
Taft said in part:
Il see in the name of your club the
possibility that you were organized to
furnish an opportunity for swan song
to those about to disappear. l concluded
that 1t was well to cast an anchor to the
windward and accept as much real con-
dolence as | could gather in such hos
pitable presence as this and therefore,
my friends | accepted your invitation and
am here.
You have given me the toast of The
President 1t is said that the office of
the President is the most powerful in
the world because under the constitution
it's occupant really can exercise more
discretion than an emperor or king exer-
cises in any of the governments of mod
ern Europe. | am not disposed to ques-
ton this as a matter of reasoning from
the actual power given the President
in the constitutional division of govern
mental functions. but | am bound to say
that the consciousness of such power is
rarely, If ever, present in the mipd OF
the ordinary individual acting as Presi-
dent, because what chiefly stares him
in the face in carrying out any plan OF
his, is the limitation upon the power and
not its extent. OF course, there are happy
individuals who are able entirely to ig-
more these limitations both in mind and
practice and as to them the result may
be different But to one whose training
and profession is subordinate to law, the
intoxication of power rapidly sohers off
in the knowledge of it's restrictions and
under the prompt reminder of an ever
pre- sent and a not always considerable
press, as well as by the kindly sugges-
lions that not infrequently come from that
hall of congress in which impeachments
are initiated and that smaller chamber
In which they are tried.
Everybody Suggests Changes
I'm these days of progress, reform, up
lift and Improvement man does moi
show himself abreast of the age unless
he has some changes to suggest. II
is the recommended change that marks
his being up 10 date II may be change
only for the sake of change, but it Il
responsive TO a public demand and there
fore let's propose 1t. II is contrary I,
my own love for the dear old consti
tuition to suggest any alteration in it'
terms lest it be regarded as reflection
/ upon. or a CfillclSn OF tndt W0lt1 Ids
been put 10 tine sacred use for IS year.
of maintaining liberty regulated by Law
and the guarantees of the rights of thu
minority and the Individual under th'
rule of the majority But, yielding t,
the modern habit. and Just to show thai
though | am a conservative. I am not s
reactionary. / venture the suggestion tina
| II would aid the efficiency of the execu.
| tive and center his energy and atten
/ ton and that of his suhordinates in the
latter part Of his administration upor
what is purely disinterested public
service. il he were made ineligible aftel
serving~one term of six years, either tt
a succeeding or q nen-succeeding term
II am little specific in this matter
because II seems necessary 10 be so il
order to be understood. do not car,
how unambitious OF modest a President
is ] don't care how determined he j.
/ that he himself will not secure his re
nomination tand there are very few in,
deed who do TO that extenD still his sub.
ordinatos, equally interested with him l.
his reelection will, wenever they hay.
| the opportunity, exert their influence am,
divide their time between the public sery-
ice aud the effort 10 secure their chicf'i
denomination and reelection.
Officials Lose Effectiveness
1T is difficult to prevent the whole
administration from losing part Of it