Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-11-17
TAFT SINGS HIS SWAN SONG IN
making A Remarkable SPEECH

II is contrary TO my own love Tor the
dear old constitution to suggest any
alteration In its terms, lest 1t be re-
garder as a reflection upon, or a
criticism Of, that which has been
put TO the sacred use Of l25 years oi
maintaining liberty regulated by law
and the guarantees OF the rights pi
the minority and the individual under
the rule of the majority. But, yield
ing to the modern habit and just -
show that though / am conservative,
| am not reactionary, / venture the
suggestion that II would aid the ef-
fciency of the executive and centar
his energy and attention and that oi
his subordinates in the latter part 81
his administration upon what Is o
purely dlsinterested public service, II
he were made ineligible after serving
one term of six years, either to
succeeding or non-succeeding term,
Il am little specific in this mat
ter, because it seems necessary to be
so in order to be understood. | dol't
care how unambitious or modest a
president Is, | don't care how deter
mined he Is that he himself will not
secure his denomination (and there
are very few, indeed, who go to
eXtenD still his subordinates, equally
interested with him in his reelection
will, whenever they have the oppor-
tunity, exert their influence and dl-
vide their time between the public SER
vice and the effort to secure their
chiefs denomination and reelection.
at is difficult to prevent the whole
administration from losing a part Of
its effectiveness for the public good
by this diversion to political efforts
for at least year of the four of each
administration. Were this made i'm
possible by law, l can zee no reason
why the energy Of the president ana
that of all his subordinates might not
be directed rather to making a great
record of efficiency in the first and
only term than in seeking a second
term for that purpose.
-Four years Is rather a short time
mental policies. Six years is better"
Cabinct Officers.
bringing the executive and legislative
branches of the government cloSor to.
gether the president thought 1t wise
to give each department head scat
In the senate and house, with a right
to enter into discussion of proposed
legislation in either branch Of the ma
tional legislative bodies. This, ho
said. would keep congress much bet
ter Informed as to actual conditions
in the executive department.
"The strongest reason for advocat-
ing this change, however," said the
president, sis that the influence that
the executive shall have in shaping
legislation shall be more in harm onv
with the responsibility that the peo-
pie could hold him to, in respect to 1t.
He is the head of the party that elect
ed him and as such, II congress Is
controlled by the same political parry,
as 1t generally is, he Is looked to to
shape the congressional policy and -
secure the passage of the statutes
which the party platform has promis-
ed. Now, with such burden on him.
he ought to have greater means
of bringing about what he wishes in
tn character Of the legislation to bit
considered by congress and greater
powers of persuasion to secure the
adoption of such legislation than those
which the mere right to send mes
sages and the mere opportunity OF
personal consultation with leading
members of the house and senate give
him. l doubt not that the presence
OF able officers on the florr Of each
house would give greater harmony
OF plan for the conduct of public bust
ness in both houses and secure much
more valuable legislation in accord
ance with party plans than we have
now. On the other hand. the system
would enable congress to come closer
to the executive and bring the presl
dency more effectively into each act
and compel a disclosure OF the rea-
sons Justifying 1t, Immediately at the
time OF the act and keep the house
more quickly advised by the direct
questions of hostile critics which
must be answered, of the progress OF
business under executive auspices.
A Note of Sadness.
"One of the results of my obser-
vetion in the presidency is that the
position is not place to be enjoyed
by a sensitive man.
The experience in the presidency
toughens the hide of the occupant 50
as to enable him to resist the stings
of criticism directed against him
from the time he takes office until
he lays 1t down. A query arises In
respect to criticisms and attacks that
are made without the slightest ref
erence to facts and, merely for the
purpose of invoking popular opposl-
tion and distrust and with the hope
that by constant repetition they can
escape any possible refutation.
don't know that this evil has been
any greater In this administration
All I know is that It was my first ex-
perience and II seemed to me as IL
had been more greatly tried than
most presidents by such methods. The
result in some respects IL unfortu-
nate in that after one or two efforts