The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-04-10
ONE MONTH OF WILSON.

president need not fear a snap YER
dict. Every day since he entered the
White House has raised him in the
regard of his countrymen. RE IS
recognized already as one OF the
ablest executives the nation ever mad.
If he continues to grow IN puDilc
favor for the next forty-seven months
az he has grown during the past
thirty-one days, he will be one OF the
most popular presidents in our MS
tory long before the close OF MS
term. ,.
President Wilson has shown that
he can cut red tape without smash
ing the constitution. That is feat
of which any man may be PROUD;
Federal aid to sufferers in the nooo
belt has been prompt and eHectl'e'
and hampered by no needless regu-
latious. Neither has it been accom-
oanied by spectacular outbursts ana
Wild vaporings.
Had Roosevelt been in office when
shis disaster occurred, he would have
given one of his celebrated lmlta-
lions of a philanthropic Vesuvlus:
He would have added a torrent OF
words to the torrent of waters, bonn
barded the weeping heavens with al.
iectives berating the restrictions OF
his power, ridden roughshod over
law and constitution-and IN the
end, accomplished little except the
glorification of himself.
Wilson has INDUCED in no sham
heroics, made no boisterous demands
for added power. and complained OF
no restrictions. He has sent relief
where it was needed, without fuss
or feathers, without upsettlng any
law or arousing any antagonlsm.
President Wilson has knocked
out "dollar diplomacy with one
straight punch to the jaw. re mas
taken the country out OF the Euro
pean discord" that proposed to bleed
China for a six power loan; ana
served notice that the United States
is not running a collection agency
for international shylOcks. He has
declared his belief that the chinese
have the same right to manage thelr
affairs that we in this country nave
to manage our own; and in proof OF
mis- good faith, he is about to recog-
nize the Chinese republic.
Incidentally, the blow that killed
dollar diplomacy gave SAD shoch
to a sweet young person VINO an
sWers to the name OF huntington
Wilson. This dear creature was en-
Moved in the state department by the
Taft administration, and held over
few days while Secretary of state
BRYAN was getting settled in his seat.
Little Huntington got the halluclna-
HON that he was intrusted with the
iob of debating the foreign policy
of this government; and was quite
peeyed to find that it was not true.
President Wilson has shown that
ne is not conducting an employment
bureau for the benefit OF SEED!
tatesmen. He conceives that ne was
chosen to administer the large AFFAIRS
of government for the American peo-
ple, rather than to parcel out JOBS
Gentlemen wanting positions IN the
treasury department. for example.
must 60 to the secretary OF the treas
nry. not to the president. The only
annlicants for Office whom Mr.. Will
son will see are those whom he
sends for-and up to date the mum
her of persons invited to a private
conference with Woodrow Wilson on
the subject of a federal job is not
large. -,
As he refuses to waste on Joo
hunters time that belongs to the
nuhlic. so President Wilson declines
to spend public money or use puDllc
nronerty for himself. For two ad-
ministratlons. government cutter
has been set aside as the presidents
Measure yacht One cutter was not
ALWAYS enough for Mr.. Roosevelt;
sometimes he occupied one govern
ment ship himself while another was
detailed to amuse his family.
Mr.. Wilson has put an cnd TO that
practice. Doubtless he would Ike
Yacht, for with all his scholarship
and craftsmanship, he is very nu-
man man. But he knows that the
use of public property for the private
benefit of officials is one OF the most
pervasive and demoralizing forms OF
graft; and he proposes to end BAD
practice by good example.
President Wilson doesn't propose
to be deadhead. He was offered
free membership in fashlonao pie
golf club, and politely but firmly de-
cIined. He explained that as soon
as he could spare time from pubic
duties. he meant to apply for mem
bership, and pay for it like anyone
else The idea that president
should pay for what he gets does not
appeal to certain expounders OF the
divine right of ofticialism; but VIII
son doesn't seem to care.
sa But perhaps the most striking
thing about the new administration
ia the drought it has ushered in.
|] The new president is total alb
fainer Vice President Marshall IS
another. Secretary Of State Bryan is
third. Senate Leader John w:
Kern is a fourth. These men 90 not
serve wine at their official entertain
ments. They did not put wine or
liquor on their tables at home, and
they see no reason to change their
habits, just because they are spend
ing a season in Washington.
Such a change in social habits
would be remarkable in any case.
For such a change to be caused by
democratic administration is over
gneiming. For forty years: democ,
5eacy has been associated with mint
iIlsps. Ten thousand good ola