The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-11-17
HEADS OF NATIONS
Power of Our President Versus
That of Royal Rulers.
THE EXERCISE OF THE VETO.

- hlgnt WnicN way 0e Treoiy OSeu py
Our Chief Executive, but Which
Might Shake the Throne Of the Mon
arch Who Dared Assert II.
1t has been said that the president
of the United States has more real
power than most monarchs of Europe.
| do not know that am able to insu-
tute an intelligent comparison, because
to do that one ought to be quite famil-
inr with the extent Of the royal or Inn
perial power to be measured with that
Of our president, and have not suff1-
cicnt knowledge on the subject
know something with respect to the
real governing power Of the king of
England, and except in an indirect
way the presidents power far exceeds
that of King George, and l think 1t is
very considerably more than that of
the president Of France. When. how
ever, one examines the imperial power
In governments like Germany, Austria,
Italy and Spain the question Is much
more difficult. and l presume no one
would say that the presidents power
is equal to that of the czar Of Russia.
With us a president is elected for
four years, and nothing can get him
out Of office except his death or his res
ignation--which never comes-or his
impeachment. The certainty Of his
tenure for four years makes our execu-
tive administration a little more rigid
and less subject to quick changes Of
public opinion than In the parliamen.
tary countries. am inclined to think
that our system is a good thing for our
country. however much parliamentary
government may suit the countries
where It IA in use.
OF course 1t has this advantage: In
a parliamentary government there is a
union between the executive and the
legislative branches. and they there
fore work together, because those who
constitute the executive lead and d.
rect the legislation. whereas In the
separation of the great branches of the
government with us the president rep
resents the executive, congress the leg
islative and the courts the judicial
branch. and the plan Of the men who
framed the constitution was to pre-
serve these branches separately.
The president is able to recommend
legislation to congress, and he may "a
in person to argue the wIsdOm Of 1t II
he chooses. Mr.. Wilson restored an
old custom of that sort, which was
abandoned by President Jefferson, and
I think he was right in doing SO. II
emphasizes the presidents recOmmen
datiOns and focuses the eyes OF the
people on that which he regards as i'm
portant to the public welfare, and Il
puts greater responsibility on con
gress to give attention to his sugges
tions.
The British constitution gives thu
power of veto to the king, but 1t hal
not been exercised for more than twt
centuries, and We're 1t attempted 1
would shake the throne. The exercis,
| Of the presidents veto always rouse
eloquence on the part of those who ar
much disappointed at the defeat Of tn
measure, and the walls Of congress no
infrequently resOund with denuncia
tion OF HIS tyrannical exercise Of
kingly prerOgatlve.
But the fact Is 1t has come to be
more frequent characteristic Of re
public than Of modern monarchy
For king or an emperor to interpOs
veto to an act of the popular legisla
ture Is really to obstruct the people
will. because he was not chosen b
their votes. but inherited his r0ys
power. He must indeed be careful I
exercising veto lest he incur a prt
test and arouse feeling dangerous
his dynasty.
The case Of the president Ia very di
ferent. The constitution establishe
by the people requires the president
withhold his signature from bill II b
disapprOve Of It and return 1t with h
objections to the house In which It Oril
inatG3 for the president IL quite q
much the representative Of the peop
az are the members Of the two houses
Indeed, the whole people Of the uni
ed States is his constituency. and
therefore speaks and acts for the
quite as certainly ns the member
elected from congress - districts
tho senators from thu states. He
not exercising klngly power In
veto. He IL acting In II representatiN
capacity for the whole peoRIe and
preventing n law that he thinks wou
work to the detriment OF the who
country. On this account the roar
tho young lions OF congress- against
veto never frightens the occupant
the White House. William Howa
Taft In Yale Review.