Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-11-17
President Facetiously Refers
to Defeat and DepreCates
Failure of Peace Treaties in
United States Senate,
THANKS AMERICAN
PEOPLE FOR H0N0RS
Chief Executive Admits Great
Powers Invested in Head Of
Nation But Says Limitations
Are Always Before Him,

nv Morning Journal spcc,si Leas~d wirs.I
New York. Nov. i6.-President
TAFT sang his swan song AS chief
executive of the nation tonight AS
the guest of the Lotus club, the presi-
dent responded to the toast. THE
President In speech which many
Of his hearers considered the most
remarkable he has ever made He
shifted from grave to gay and from
the philosophy which he said four
years In the White House had taught
him To a discussion of the problems
which face the nation He laughed az
the outcome OF the elections smiled
when he spoke of some OF the plans
of the president elect. Woodrow Will
son. and touched with gentle sarcasm
William Jennings Bryan.
His chief regret the president said.
was that he had been unable to influ-
encc the United States senate to rati.
fv the arbitration treaties with
France and Great Britain. In spite OF
that fact he asked his audience 10 be-
lieVe that he would leave office with
the deepest gratitude to the American
people for the honor they had given
him and with the belief that enough
progress had been accomplished IN
his administration to warrant his feel
ing that he had done real good for
his country.
President TAFT said In part:
Il saw In the name Of your club
tho nossibility that You were nrganir-
cd to furnish an opportunity for "a
swan song to those about to disap-
pear concluded that II was well
to east an anchor TO the windward
and accept as much real coincidence
as | could gather In such hospitabfe
presence as this and therefore. my
friends. l accepted your invitation
and am here You have given me the
toast Of The President 1t Is said
that the office Of president is tho
most powerful in the world because
under the constitution its occupant
really can exercise more discretion
than an emperor or king exercises ia
any of the governments Of modern
Europe. | am not disposed TO uues-
tion this as a matter Of reasoning
from the actual power given tho
president In the constitutional divi-
sion of governmental functions, but
| am bound 10 say that the conscious
ness Of such power js rarely II ever.
present In the mind of the ordinary
individual acting as president be-
cnnso what chiefly stares him In the
face in carrying out any plan of his.
is the limitation on the power and
not rs extent
"Of course there are happy indi-
Vidnals who are able entirely to ig-
more these limitations both in mind
and practice, ANA as to them the re-
suit may be different. But to ono
whose training ana profession Is SUBJ
ordinate to law; the intoxications or
power sobcrs Off In the knowledge or
its restrictions and under the prompt
reminder Of an ever-present ana NOT
a lNays consideratc press as well as
bv the kindly suggestions that not in
frequently come from that hall or
congress in which impeachments are
Initiated and that smaller chamber
in which they are tried.
In these days of progress reform,
uplifi ana Improvement man does
not show himself abreast OF tho ago
unless he has some changes to sug-
scst 1t is the recommended changA
hat marks his being date. 1t
may he a change only for the sake OF
.hange. bnt II is responsive to n pub
lie demand and therefore. let's pro-
pose H. II is contrary to my own lovS
'nr the dear old constitution to suggest
my alteration In its terms. lest II he
'eearded as "A reflection on. or a criti~
ism of that which has been put to tbs
iacred use. for i25 years. Of main
aiming liberty regulated bv law, and
he guarantees of the rights Of the rni-
ioritv and the individual under the
'ulo of the majority. But yielding
q the modern habit and Just 20 show
hat while am n conservative. I am
rot reactionary. venture a sug-
;estion that would aid the efficiency
,e the executive and center his ener-
~ and attention and that OF his sub
'rdinatcs in the latter part of his ad-
ninstration upon what is a purely
public service II he were
made Ineligible after serving ons
erm " six wears. either to n succeed
ng or q non-consecutive term.
II am n little specific in this mat
er because n seems necessary TO he
O to be understood. 7 don't care how
or modest a president
5. I don't care how determined he Is
hat he himself will not secure his
enomination land there are very
ew indeed who 60 10 that extent.
till his subordinates. equally inter-
sted with him In his reelection, will.
rhenever they have the opportunity,
xert their influence and divide their
me between the public service and