Evening star., 1914-04-12
Executive Without Power to
Make Himself a Leader,
Wrote Thomas w. Wilson.
HIS CABINET OFFICERS
ARE MERELY CHIEF CLERKS
Article Printed in international Re.
view in 1879 Is Read in Congress
by Representative johnson.

That the President could seldom make
himself recognized as a leader. and that
cabinet officers are little better than chief
clerks are views ascribed to President
Wilson when young man, twenty-three
or twenty-four years old, according to a
speech made yesterday afternoon in the
House Of Representatives by Representa-
tive johnson OF Washington, a republi-
can. who quoted part of an article writ
ten by Thomas w. Wilson," in the In
ternationai Review. published In 1879.
Representative johnson gained a few
minutes time in the debate on the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill. AS he began to read the article
he was asked who is Thomas w. VIII
son?'
HE is Woodrow Wilson, the President
Of the United States and Woodrow VIII
son is this democratic administration
Scant Respect for Congress.
Thomas W. Wilson," continued Mr..
johnson, says that Congress is q DELHI
erative body IN which there Is little de-
liberation, and a legislative body which
legislates with no real discussion. He
argues that committees cannot properly
do their work and that full debate at the
right time is not allowed.
"Mr. Wilson says that under the cabi-
net form of government platforms mean
something and that broken promises will
end in broken power. He says also, that
the President can seldom make himself
leader and that cabinet officers are but
little better than chief clerks"
Replying to another question from Rep
resentative Murdock as to the identity
of Thomas w. Wilson, Mr.. Johnson fur
ther explained:
He is Woodrow Wilson. the President.
who is leading this gradual overthrow
of representative government and has,
as Senator Crane says. for the time be-
ing obliterated Congress"
Mr.. johnson read into the Record this
quotation from the 1879 magazine article
by Thomas w. wilson:
Congress is a conglomeration of In
harmonious elements, a collection of men
representing each his neighborhood, each
his local interests; all of it is at best
only lmping comparison between the
conflicting and innumerable localities
represented There is no guiding or
harmonizing power.
Subservient to Congress.
THE President can seldom make him
self recognized as a leader. He Is mere
ly the executor of sovereign legislative
will; his cabinet officers are little more
than chief clerks, or superintendents Of
the executive departments, who advise
the President as to matters in most OF
which he has no power of action. inde-
pendently."
Abiding to this reference to cabinet
officers as chief clerks, Representative
Johnson exclaimed:
This is worse than being knocked into
a cooked hat.
I'm this article" he continued. Thomas
W. Wilson intimates that no high-spirit-
ed man could long remain in the Office
of the presidency in which he was per-
mitted to pursue a policy, and that If
defeated by both houses OF Congress he
would naturally resign. He says:
IF defeated by both houses he would
naturally resign, and not many years
would pass before resignation upon de-
feat would have become established prec-
edent and resignation upon defeat is
the essense of responsible government
That" said Mr.. johnson, lis the Brit
ish cabinet way and the way of presi
dents Of some republics other than this.
1t is not the American way. as some
other things are not American which
we have been asked to do.
Views on Gag Rule.
Indicating that Thomas W. Wilson
was opposed to gag rule in 1870. while
acquiescing in it on the Panama tolls re-
peal bill, 1 quote from his article:
Congress is a. deliberative body in
which there is little deliberation; a legis-
fature which legislates with no real dis
cussion of its business. Government Is
practically carried on by irresponsible
committees
Il find another extract which may be
Of interest. viz: 1t fCongress) Is a des-
potiSn1 which uses all its mower with all
caprice, all the scorn for settled policies,
all the wild unrestraint which makes the
methods of other tyrants SO hateful to
freedom
That" said Mr. Johnson i'm conclu-
sion. lis the view of Thomas w. Wilson,
now known as President Wilson, when
he was a young man of twenty-three or
twenty-four years Of age