The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-06-17

welt was president that he assumed
to dictate more than he should but his
efforts were that of child compared
to a giant when we consider what
Woodrow Wilson is doing with his
party. II party platforms and party
convictions are to be overthrow by
the president who enjoys the distinc-
ton of becoming a dictator, then il
is time to warn the country that such
conduct is an assault upon our form
of government 1t is not the duty nor
the privilege of the president, under
the constitution of the United States
to make the laws and when he uses
his official position to carry GU,
measures of his own invention he
acts in violation OF the constitution
which he is sworn to support. We
sometimes wonder just how far the
people will 80 in permitting the pres
ident to control legislation. There
never was a more serious mistake
than for the house and senate to per
nit the president to use the patron
age or any other consideration to con
troll legislation.
The responsibility CT this depart
fment of. the. government is upon the
|:law makers provided for in the con
stitutiOn and when they abdicate
their power and surrender it to the
president they are not only violating
the letter but the spirit of the con
jstitution of the United States. Wood
row Wilson may gloat over his victory
but the practice, if continued, vii
cause his countrymen to weep. This
it should be remembered, is a republi
can form of government and not
monarchy, 1t is the duty of the legis
lative department of the government
under the constitution to enact the
|;laws and the presidents duty is to sec
| to their enforcement, and when he
usurps the power OF the congress OF
attempts to ,coerce the congress, he
acts in violation of his oath.
h The first jolt which has come to the
bull moose party of late is found in the
attack which is being made upor
lGeorge w. Perkins, the chief lieuten'
ant of Theodore Roosevelt in his boil
lof the republican convention in Chi
cago two years ago. Mr.. Perkins was
reported as the organizer and flnan'
I'cial hacker of the movement and he
was accepted as q hale fellow in favor
| sof the reforms at the time the bolt
was made but 1t seems Mr.. Perkins
wall street record keeps bobbing III
and some OF the faithful are claim
ling that his reputation. in favor OF
trusts is causing embarrassment tC
the movement and Pinchot and other
reformers are insisting that Mr.. Per-
lkins must be eliminated. He insists
Ithat it is his purpose to stand pat and
to take part in the management OF
the affairs of the party. Theodore
Roosevelt will have considerable tc
do if he succeeds in allaying the sus.
picions which seem to assert them,
selves that many of the leaders OF the
moose party are not exactly sound in
doctrine. 1t is all right for men like
|Mr. Perkins, Boss Finn and men Of
that stripe to assume prominence In
the new movement until their records
attract the attention Of the people
land cause them to look with suspicion
upon such leadership. If the people
really wish to, get behind party
made up Of. practical, patriotic ant
fable men, they, should drop the moose
party and join the ranks OF the re
publican party.