The Washington herald., 1913-03-17
The President's s Nay.
During the period between the \


and first fortnight in Office OF Presi-
dent Wilson. the country has been
brought face to face with an entirely
new type OF Chief Magistrate-a man
whose courageous convictions enable
him to know exactly what he wants,
and, when he does not want it, to say
e.
There certainly has never been a
President who, in 50 brief period,
has declined so many invitations TO do
things distasteful to his judgment, or
so inclined to disregard the bogy Of
precedent which confines so many men
within the shackles of cast-iron con-
ventionality. The custom has always
been for public men TO do a great
many things they consider irksome and
superfuous, simply because it was the
correct thing they have failed to fol-
low their own bent and gone in to
please groups OF their fellow-nen who
conform to what are known as social
usagcs.
But President Wilson is made Of
sterner stuff. Like the man in the
popular ditty, he evidently wants
what he wants when-and where
he want, it," The result is such a
huttcr in the dovccote OF business cir
cles. the political camps and clubs As
is absolutely unprecedented.
The citizens OF the District OF Co.
'unlbia received their first shock when
the indication came from Princeton
that. the inaugural ball might a> well
be cut out; and although opinions
differ as to the adviSability OF this
course. ii is certain that the Presi-
Dental will was law.
The ball may or may not have been
a superfuity in these days OF din
1ers' for the classes and fireworks for
the masses: but its elimination was
certainly a foregone conclusion
Then came what may be considered
I sweeping dcclination, with few eX-
ccptions to prove the rule. The Presi-
dent knows exactly what he wants,
where he wishes to so. and what he
wishes and intends to do. What was
lone by his predecessors, remote or
more immediate, docs not in the least
concern him. and as regards both big
things and small matters, as many
people consider him right as presume
% criticisc his unmiStakablc indcpcnd-
cncc.
Force OF character always makes for
foes as well As friends: the man who
dares is equally laudcd and assailed
There are those who forcSce a
Waterloo when the will-power and per-
'onal predictions OF one man, how
.ver highly placed bucks up against
Congress composed OF hundreds OF
Senators and Representatives. all OF
whom want their own way and mean
% have it. if an organized system can
bring it to pass. But in the mere mat
Ter OF social details and club member
;hip. Our private citizens make viz
tu, of necessity and yield as grace
fully as does the acting theatrical
manager who eliminates the national
snthem-by request-when the Presi-
ient enters his box at playhouse.
Mr.. Wilson's idea is probably that
as, unlike former Presidents, he pays
for the box, he visits a thcatcr as he
does a church-aS a private individual
The fact. none the less. remains that
for four years to come Mr.. Wilson is
walled about with the Office of Presi-
dent. and that no one can escape from
its environment and obligations, even
though he may manifest genius for
crystallizing personal preference into
4 however courteous refusal The de-
vice Of the incumbent may we'll be
paraphrased into: Mckinley would not,
Taft could not, Wilson can. say no.