The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-11
SECRET OF WILSON'S POWER.

President Wilson made it abun-
dainty clear, both before and after
his election that he expected to have
a very real and direct connection
with congressional legislation. He
spent no time in explaining the JUS
tifcatioI of such a course by the
constitution; though we suppose that
a good lawyer could, if pressed, find
all the warrant necessary in the pro-
vision emitting the executive to
recommend" to congress ''such
measures as he shall judge necessary
and exepdient." This power, with all
it's implications, Woodrow Wilson
quietly took for granted; and never
yelled his purpose to have an active
part in law making. This intent Of
his was, of course, heightened in eX-
preston when he went in person to
consrcss to read his two messages,
ana when he calmly referred to tho
imembers of congress as colleagues
with him in the legislative branch OF
the government. Thus his theory of
the relation of the president to legis-
latiOn has never been in doubt. Brit
What of his practice? This extraor-
binary session Of congress deserves
the name in more senses than one;
in no respect more than for showing
the country how a leading man as
president can powerfully affect the
passage of laws.
1t is we'll to stand off moment
and see what has been happening. In
the midst Of momentous changes
and events, we become habituated to
them and lose due sense Of their
significance. We may have lived,
with the poet, in perfect star, yet
seen it not when we walked therein.
But it is certain that any intelligent
observer of American atfalrs-Mr
Brice for instance, or OstrogOrskl.-
would consider what has been going
ON at Washington since April as OF
capital Importance in the history OF
the development Of the presidents
functions. For he would not fail to
see that it is the president who has
been the chief driving force behind
the two great measures that have
been occupying the attention OF con-
gress. Both these measures 1t is
lnow expected will be enacted into
law before the extra session expires.
If they are, they will, considering
their nature and the circumstances
under which they were brought to
passage, constitute an achievement
without a parallel in the annals or
the American presidency.
The tariff bill it was comparative
i w easy to get along. To it the demo-
cratic party was freshly pledged, and
the country was ready for the work.
But the personal wishes OF President
Wilson were early stamped upon the
bill. 1t was on his initiative that
wool was made free and sugar ultl-
Imately free. This was much to have
accomplished, yet the president mas
done a great deal more by holding
his party together successfully, and
acting as a kind of dynamo to fur
nish energy for pushing the bill. But
the great wonder is that, along with
this bill by itself enough to ill the
mind and exhaust the strength OF
, the ordinary executive, President
Wilson should have had the resource
: and the boldness to devise measure
of still more far reaching import
ance. Last May, the possibility OF
: getting a currency bill through at
this session of congress was only
scoffed at by the congressional hands
in Washington The president was
dreaming. The thing was preposter-
Gus. But Mr.. Wilson steadily kept
at it. First he succeeded in getting
the plan tolerated.; then it was dis
cussed: then a bill was framed,
which was sharply criticised-as it
deserved to be-has since been
amended and improved until in its
- I, hn
the best economic and banking opln-
ion of the country; and now, as
browning miracle, the belief IN WASH
lington is veering round to the convlc-
ton that the bill will actually be
made law before the snow flies. II
it really is, the result in heightening
the prestige and the authority of the
Wilson administration will bulk
large before the eyes of all.
There is something impressive in
the mere promise of such remark
able record of work done in Wilson's
first six months; but the more deeply
interesting thing, after all, is the
man behind the work. Nothing is SO
fascinating in public life as the study
of new personality wreaking itself
upon old tasks. What are Wilson's
methods? Who will tell us the Sc
cret of his influence? Outwardly, he
has been the least assertive and UNI
ostentatious of executives. To his
immediate predecessors he offers
sharpest of contrast. He has made
no speeches and in clustering or
Dragging he has never indulged; he
has not gone out of the steps OF the
White House and called any man a
liar. Nor has he allowed himself to
be pulled hither and thither in good
natured non-resistance. He has stuck
closely to his job. No head of a
great corporation could have more
rigidly kept office hours, or display
ed more industry. Yet somehow,
from this business president sitting
at his desk, there has come an inn
pulse and a sustained force which
have made the legislation that look
ed impossible but little more than
two months ago, seem today almost
within sight.
Such effects come by cause, yet it
may not be so easy to analyze the
| cause The work which President