The Washington times., 1913-11-15
THE PRESIDENTS POWER.

The Western correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger sends to his paper an interesting reflection
Of mid-WeStern opinion, which he believes is be-
ginning to descry danger of President Wilson iso-
lating himself from his party by reason of his in
sistence on debating the last details of legislation
The currency experience of course, is the immediate
text. The split among Senate Democrats, which is
wider and deeper in sentiment than the surface,
is compared to the beginnings of the schism unde,
Mr. Cleveland which left Cleveland at the end of
his Administration without party
1t is yet too early to draw such parallels save as
interesting conectures. But the thought is not abb
sent from good many minds here in Washington :;
that it has found an echo in the West gives it the
more interest. Frank A. Vanderbilt in his address
in New York few evenings ago, summarized in
eloquent and impressive words the situation as it
exists today and as it is appealing, more and MORE
to the whole community. What he said in the con-
clusion of his address the currency situation IS
worth repeating here:
Could speak directly to the President of the United
States, would say to him that the country owes
to him unbounded praise stand he has ken
for currency legislation. Without that positive deter
minaton without the grim will that he has shown leg
Station at the present time would be impossible and
there due to him for his courage his persstency
the strength Of his political purposes unstned praise
but could not stop with saying that would say 'NIr
President the history this country with which Won
are SO familiar, presents few examples of greater re-
sporsibilit! resting upon its Chief Executive Tariffs
tax schemes themselves, may affect only
members OF tho body polite its hands, its arms; but
banking and currency legislation affects its neart 1t
teaches every citizen humble great rich poor and
the that history will make your acts will be
largely Influenced by the the failure OF the
legislative program which you with your splen-
did Will, imposing upon the country We need legisa-
on but that legislation must conform higher laws
than any set of make-the laws OF
economics. Those laws greater than party plat
crms they are greater than any administrative pro-
rum. they will work undeviatngly whatever legisa-
ton you write upon the statute books.
There can be no time limit beyond which you cannot
change the legislative plan if by such change you will
clearly conform that plan to these higher laws
There nothing in the financial situation that need
give you cause 20 hurry if by taking time deeper
consideration and for better understanding your pro-
posed enactments be improved. The enactment of
new banking ard currency laws may be made A Short
ceremony, but that enactment will have endless conse-
quences for sood or evil l beg of you not to close
your mind to argument that is based understand
ing of principles, to let judgment be coudeG by
partisan pride the hope for partisan advantage You
may proudly say that you DO not write your political
program in chalk but if that program is found by
its ndelibility may day be deepest regret
You have earned the gratitude of a great people by
bringing through your will this legislative pro-
gram to the present point If you will now throw
the tremendous weight of your influence the side
of free intellectual judgment and against the brute force
OF party majority if will throw the great weight OF
your influence in a direction that will lead to an exer-
else of freedom Of thought without political restriction,
if you will to it that decisions may be made upon
the merit of the proposals. and not be tied
and hampered by party domination, will then have
earned lasting praise Do not again permit the intel
ects of the who must decide this great question
to be bound and hanpcred by caucus rule. DO not
nit partisan pride to stand the way of achieving what
right See it that there is free play for the sound
and unhampered judgment of Congress, and then You
will indeed have brought to this country new freedom