Evening journal., 1913-05-12
sTRATs MARNs WILSON.


ISAAC LOBE sTRAUs Progressive Democratic
candidate for United States Senator from Mary
land resents President wilson's interference in the
Senatorial fight in that State He has addressed to
the President long and open letter in which he pro-
tests against such Federal executive interference
the election by the States Of their United States SEN
ators In it he cites instances in which, he asserts
such executive meddling has worked great injustice
to individuals and harm political parties and the
public
The understanding in Maryland is that President
Wilson is behind Marbury and Lee for the two Mary
land Senaorshps and that he is using his influence
to defeat John Walter Smith and straus.
The latter in his letter does mince words in tell
ing President Wilson what he thinks OF him for such
Interference is shown by the following paragraphs
in which straus calls upon Mr. Wilson to come out
publicly and announce a hands-on policy so far as
Maryland is affected and disavow any purpose of
interfering in the Senatorial election in that State:
Measures enacted by the Legislative Department in
cluding Congress and the President, of the General
Government seeking by interference to control cleo
uons invaded the fundamental and essential rights OF
the States. An attempt Of the President alone to do
so Is an legality Of a aggravated nature,
because it only invades the fundamental and es-
sental rights of the States but also the fundamental
and essential rights of the other Departments Of the
Federal Government created coordinate with the Ex-
ecutVe by the Constitution Such attempt II
cessfuy prosecuted in Maryland and other States in
the manner described in the newspaper articles pur
porting to set forth Intentions would enthrOne
the President as the Imperial Master not only of the
States but of the Legislative Judicial branches Of
the General Government besides. State and Federal
Governments unified into single centralized.
solidaed enginery would be completely under the will
OF One Man, without the checks and balances or any
other limit OF the written law to control him The
President would be the Supreme Sovereign and Arb-
ter Of the whole system.-Governments and People as
we'll. The elections of the people with which
situtionay he now has nothing whatever to do would
be merely the execution Of his will The Congress
to where the Constitution gives to the Ex-
ecutive but qualified veto. would be subservient to
mis- sway The House OF Representatives. vested with
a power to originate impeachments against and even
under some circumstances to elect the President,
well as with the power Of initiating measures,
composed Of members elected at the Presidents bid
ding would become exactly what the Stuarts tried to
make the Commons of England. The Senate no longer
chosen by and representing sovereign States but its
Imperial Master would be little than a shadow
OF its true self And the Supreme Judiciary appointed
IN effect by the President alone would be different
body from that contemplated by the Constitutions Is
It not therefore, perfectly plain that the successful
employment by the President of the tremendous pow
err and whole weight of the Federal Government to
control the elections of Senators Representatives
in the various States must lay Federal System Of
Government in ruins, make waste paper of both
United States and State Constitutions and wholly inn
perialize the Institutions OF the American People?
In conclusion and apart from all the considerations
above addressed to you why should the President in
terfere In the elections of Maryland? Why should
he try to influence the action of our voters at their
polls? Why should he attempt with tho vast powers
at his command to pre-determine their choice OF their
public officials? sure that President and per
incapable Of self government Or that they cannot be
trusted TO conduct their elections and choose their
Representatives FOR the Senate any other post
of public dnty No doubt that you must and
do know that the people of Maryland fully capable
Of sclf-rule and entirely to he trusted to do these
things. 7 that you would not insult their in
telligence aud manhood by the slightest inmation
the contrary. Why then permit others TO do so, pro-
fessedly on your behalf? why permit such declara-
tions. specific and unmstaSabe in their import and
grayely published and circulated by responsible press
90 remain uncontradcted? Why not declare TO this
State and to the Countr- that you have not picked
out anyone anywhere for Office TO be filled by the
sufrages Of the people; that you will not interfere
with elections any State; that the alleged
prescription and spos is totally foreign and repug
nant the dignity and character OF your office, and
the high purposes ofyour Administration and that
far you and your influence concerned the voters
of the States shall continue to vote they have al
ways done like freemen in free land?
II is with the earnest and anxious hope that in your
great wisdom you may deem IL proper to make such
an announcement in terms too clear to be misrepre-
sented or misunderstood that I have with the most
profound respect addressed to you this communication.
In fact, the whole letter constitutes warning to
President Wilson that unless he keeps his hands off
what regarded being essentially Maryland po-
litcal affairs he will regret in future such execu-
ltical affairs he will such executive mterfer-
ence