The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-01-05
FOR OR AGAINST
THE PRESIDENT

The Ocala Star publishes a length
~ editorial criticizing the comment of
the Times-Union on President Viii
sons recent note to the British gov
eminent. Our comment didn't please
the Star, and we do not remember
anything we said that did. But that
doesn't matter. Men may honestly
hold opposite opinions, and so long as
they discuss them honestly and fairly
there is no reason why either should
object.
The Star thinks the Times Union
opposes President Wilson in every
stand that he takes, but this shows
that it has either not read this pa
per closely or that it has forgotten.
AS to matters of legislative policy
the Times Union has never differed
with President Wilson except in his
Insistence on putting sugar and wool
on the free list. While we would ike
to see tariff enacted that would
cut out every dollar of protection so
long as protection remains in the tar
III, we think it should be equitably
distributed.
THE Times Union expressed its
hearty appreciation of the appoint
ment of Mr. Bryan as secretary of
state. Enlightened by the manage
znent Of the state department during
Fhn last two years we would not do it
again, but we did it when Mr. Bryan
was appointed
When President Wilson took his
stand against dollar diplomacy, we
endorsed his position as cordially as
IL he had been our choice for the pres
ldencg. We did the same when he
announced q policy of recognizing on
~ legally elected American govern
rnents.
With the exception of free listing
sugars and wool two commodities of
which Florida does not produce as
much as it consumes we were with
the president for tariff reduction, and
we did not flicker when Florida pro-
ducts were involved.
When President Wilson asked Con-
gress TO appeal the clause in the Pan
anna canal act which exempted Amer
lean coastwise shipping from canal
tolls, the Times Union stood with the
president and against Representative
Underwood and Representative Clark.
These are only few instances that
we remember. There are plenty OF
others. In fact, so far as matters of
Legislation are concerned there is no
man in public life with whom the
Times Union has oftener agreed or
more rarely disagreed than with
President WILSON, If the editor of
the Star had read the Times Union
regularly and had remembered what
ne reads he would not have charged
this paper with desire to differ with
the president The Ocala Star is
regularly read in this Office, but we
do not remember everything it says
III we did, we might remember that
at some time or other the Star was
pleased with something we said.
But while the Times Union has nc
desire to differ with the president, il
is not particularly careful to agree
with him, and since the majority o.
the Democratic papers accept him al
inspired, our refusal to do so is con
spicuous, while we are lost in tn,
crowd when we agree with him. Ant
50 the impression prevails that we al
ways oppose the president nevel
Agree with him.
Onr criticism of the president ha
been mainly on account of his usur
patton of the powers of Congress, bu
for this Congress has been as mucl
co blame as he has. He has the vet
power and the power to recommend
}buH he has no legal power to origi
mare legislation VIII the Star or vii
anyone else deny this A number o
bills have been proposed after consul
tation with him as administrator
measures and the president has sal
that he would insist that this 0
that feature Of bill be retained 0
eliminated. An obsequious Congress
Eas obeyed his orders. VIII the Sta
or VIII anyone else say that the spir
1t Of the Constitution is not violate
when the executive department cor
trolls the legislative department Q
1he government?
The Times Union has bitterly crit
icised the handling of the Mexican SIT
uation by the administration. W
saa0ught the sending of brigade an
of almost the entire feet agains