Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-11-28
TINKERINC WITH EX-PRESIDENTS

II the politicians and others who are interest
ing themselves in the fate of ex presidents keep
tinkenng with the problem long enough they
may possibly in time hit upon a solution that will
be satisfactory Various suggestions have been
offered but those most directly affected have not
in the past given any striking encouragements to
the project and the only ex-president now living
has been silent as to his wishes in the premises
Considering the fact that he has expressed his
views and made demands along almost every
other line OF thought. his reticence in this respect
is extraordinary. to say the least.
But is there not a hint in the very fact that
the men who have retired from the chief magis-
tracy have never advanced any claims upon the
further attention OF their fellow ctixensp Ii is
not conceivable that the several proposals which
have been made have been inspired by any Of
the men who have been given the highest honor
by their countrymen. The latest of these sug-
gestions is by Representative Burlcson Of Texas
who is said to contemplate bill making OK presi-
dents ex officio representatives al large. This
follows closely the heels of the announo emen,
OF the plan of Mr. Carnegie to pension former
devotion OF their time to the general welfare OF
the people. MIR. Carnegies plan seems to have
been frustrated by its very promulgation despite
its good intentions. The Bureson suggestion is
hardly less acceptable to the spirit of our nstitu-
tons, which provide wholly satisfactory methods
OF choosing representatives in congress II the
people OF the community in which former pres
Il L. /. Il
will honor both themselves and him by choosing
him. Neither they nor the people at large can
Justly have even an expresident fosted upon
them by any ex ohcio provision of law.
Ii is rather strange that in the multitude OF
fussy suggestions as to the best disposition to
be made of our former presidents there is not
to be found previous to this present writing the
most obvious OF all-that they be left alone-to
enjoy either the private citizenship which is en-
phaszed by the honors that have come to them or
to have other honors bestowed on them in the
future Ex-presdents are as private citizens
vastly more distinguished than when panoplied
with minor official distinctions. They are never
sufficiently numerous to constitute anything APP
preaching problem and no honors or rewards
that can be heaped upon OF them greater
than that OF being pointed out as an American cit
izen, in private life, who was once chosen
president of the republic. Why not let express
dents alone instead of bothering about them so
mueh1 They doing less worrying than any
body else. True it is that an aggressive expres.
dent might. under Representative Burleson's till
make himself felt and heard on all occasions. But
even the particular expresiden, whose in
santly leaps to mind is not asking congress to
give him any Jobs pensions or emouments. That
can be said to his credit, and it also be said
that the people as a whole very cordially ac-
quiesce in that view that ex presidents especially
of the fussy variety should remain private citi-
zens-kansas City Journal