The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-06

next as leader of the negative. He de-
MED that there was a division of the
three powers of government, to wit
the legislature, the judiciary and the
executive. The power was, he main
tanned, invested in the people alone.
Further, he conceded that the AmeTi-
can constitution nay have a degree Of
rigidity, but it was only right that the
people alone should have the power to
enact an amendment to it. He cor
rected n leader of the affirmative in
his statement that .Canada@and the
United States should either. be taken
as a unit or as equal parts rs u whole.
Vastly different conditions, he averred
were present in the United States. The
government must grow out of these
conditions and the presidential form
was the one which had been developed
from the needs of colonial times, and
was the only one suitable to the coun-
try. No government he said, could
be prematurely imposed on a people
SO diversified as those of the United
States. The negro problem in the
south was one of the biggest con-
fronting American politics at the
present time, and could never be sub
mitted to a cabinet form Of govern
ment. Sectional feeling was bound to
break out in local issues. The form of
government must fit the temperament
and spirit of the people. The presi-
Dental form of government was the
only one which could preserve the
spirit of individuality and ~independ-
ence, that was SO dear to the people.
r. %1 Manitoba's Seconder. -
S~econding the debate of Manitoba
Mr.. Lowson dealt with inside work
ing of the American government,
showing how committees weakened
and corrupted legislation. Legislation
in cabinet government, he asserted,
proceeded from one source and was
consequently unified, harmonious and
relevant, Under the presidential
system the executive head of the
government was the result of party
choice and was a candidate rather
than strong executive head. On the
other. hand the premier in parlil-
lnentary government was a man, risen
from the people. by virtue, of his W
ability and by his executive power
rendered indispensable relation was
bound to exist between the executive
and legislative bodies. Under cabinet
government closer sympathy existed
from the fact that the premier was at
the head of both the legislative and
executive departments.
Strong Arguments for Negative.
Mr.. Musburger for the negative de-
yeloped some strong arguments. He
asseverated that both the standing
committees and the electoral college
were side issues. The big problem to
be considered in the governmental
form was the sectional feeling and so
cial conditions existent in the country.
In regard to checks and balances,
these had been put in the constitu-
ton TO prevent hasty legislation. IF
cabinet. government were introduced
into the United States the judiciary
lose its power OF interpretation of the
constitution, which he believed was
the soul OF government. Although He
acknowledged with the Affirmative
that the constitution may be rigid in
other respects. Mr.. Musburger re-
minded them that the state constftu-
tlons were elastic and legislation
through them directly affected the
people. If cabinet form OF govern
ment had been present In the civil
war he declared that the country
would have been destroyed. In con-
Guiding he stated that the parlf-
mentary system was ol~igrachicai in
many Of its departments.
Closes for Affirmative.
The closing speaker for the afirma-
tive, simon Abrahamson, followed.
turning ms ATTENTION TO the executive
side of The governments, he showed
how, In every particular, the cabinet
system was superior to the presiden-
tial. In h former the members were
constantly before the public eye and
any failure on their part to justify
their actions, meant dismissal. In he
latter the tenure of Office was fixed
enabling the holders to work their
own ends If they wilIed. They were
not responsible to the people In the
direct n of the word. The division
legislation. iii the parliamentary form
the superior authority OF the execu-
tive avoided the strife which was
bound to occur where the power was
delegated on several bodies.
Mr.. Talbot closed the debate for the
! negative. In reply to My. Abraham