Eastern Colorado times., 1913-04-25

80 .~S-->~s - ~ af-7 -
MIR WILSON'S PROGRESS
II No other president has, within sc
short period of time, won such gen.
eral favorable comment as has beer
given to Woodrow Wilson by the
people and the press during the past
few weeks.
Plainly the peoble have grown
weary of shains and pretense. Plainly
they are searching longingly for the
genuine in public life. That is the
reason that prolonged cheer goes up
from the people every time our demo-
cratic president punctures on official
pretense or sweeps aside long hon
ored tradition.
The reason that SO many OI the
words of Jefferson and of Lincoln live
is that there was behind every word a
man who appreciated the Importance
of the work he was called to do and he
spoke during what has been termed 50
constructive period" All s.perioes"
are "constructive' and the work which
Woodrow Wilson has. to do is just as
important as the work which Wash
ington or Jefferson or any OF their
successors had to do. OF every inn
portant utterance made by our presi-
dent It has been said by some, sit is o
classic" If it is q classic then 1t is
SO by reason of the simplicity OF its
strength. His inaugural address W as
given approval very generally, and it
was said that no finer address had
ever been delivered by president.
His first message to congress won
similar applause. But the few re-
marks ne made as he looked into the
eyes of the members of congress as
sembled in joint session will be re-
membered forever by the students OF
American government the students
of government generally. '"rhe presi-
dent of the United States is person." !"
said Mr.. Wilson, land not o mere de-
partment of the government, hailing
congress from some isolated island of
jealous power, sending messages, not
speaking naturally and his own
yoice-he is human being trying to
with other human beings in
a common service.n
How quickly has the presidents
judgment Us to this plan been vindi-
Gated. The people every where, re-
gardless of politics, commended it in
the beginning but. there are many
statesmen who strongly criticised the
president for his innovation who now
see that it is something to have in the
White Houseea man who has no con-
Germ for false dignity but whose pul-
pose is to cooperate with his associ-
ates for the good of the people whose
president he is.
The Milwaukee Journal put it we'll
when it said: "For eight minutes Mr.
Wilson addressed the joint assembly
OF house and senate. Those who have
heard him can imagine how his calm,
friendly voice interpreted his own
words. The chamber was full; we
may presume that it was attentive. Is
not this enough of u gain to warrant
the president in his innovation, his
democratic Innovation of carrying
his own message to the representatives.
of the peopleYn
Heretofore presidents messages
have been read before empty benches.
But now not only does every member
attend to listen to the sound of the
presidents voice, to look him in the
eye and to grasp his meaning through
his personal presence Us they could
not possibly do from the printed page,
but the people flock to the galleries.
AS result presidents message
means something. The president him
self is no,longer department of gov
ernment. He is o human being with
the high ideals cherished by the peo.
pie. The presidents message is NC
longer q dry and, unread document.
1t is thing Of lMe, Of action and II
brings results.
Nd wonder the Lincoln lNeb.l Stats