The daily Alaskan., 1915-02-03
EDITORIAL P A GE

very considerably more than that or, 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 1 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 eau 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 little mOre rigid and less subject to quick changes or public opinion than in the parliamen tarv countries. am inclined to think that our system Is good thing for our country. however much parliamentary government may suit the countries where 1t Is in use.
 Of course It 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 di- 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 tine courts the Judicial branch. and the plaD of the men who framed the constitution was to pre- serve these branches separately.
 The president Is nble to recommend legislation 10 congress. and he may 20 In person to argue the wisdom of It It he chooses. Mir. Wilson restored an old custom of that sort, which was abandoned by President Jefferson. and 1 think he was right in doing so. IL emphasizes the presidents recommen. aBtit4PS BpQt focuses the eyes or the puts q Greuter responsibility on con greSs to give attention to his sugges tions.
 The British constitution gives the power of Veto to the king. but 1t has not been exercised for more than two centuries. and were 1t attempted it would shake the throne. The exercise of the presidents veto always rOuSes eloQuence on the part of those who are much disappointed at the defeat of the measure. and the walls of congress not InfreQucntly re$ound with denuncIa tiOn of his tyranniCal exercise Of a kingly prerogative.
 But the fact Is it has come to be a more frequent characteristic of a re- public than Of a modern monarchy. For king or an emperor to interpose q veto to an act of the popular legisla- ture is really to Obstruct the peoples will. because he was not chosen by their votes. but inherited his royal power. He must indeed be careful in exercising a veto lest he incur a pro test and arouse a feeling dangerous to his dynasty.
 The case of the president Is very diff, terent The constitution established by the people requires the president to withhold his signature from q bill if he of it and return it with his objections to the house in which 1t orig mated. for the president is quite as much the representative of the people as are the members of the two houses.
 Indeed. the whole people of the Unit ed States Is his constituency. and he therefore speaks and acts for them quite as certainly as the members elected from congressional districts or the senators from the states, He is not exercising kingly power in a veto He Is acting In a representative l for the whole people and is a law that be thinks woull i work to the detriment of the whole i country. On this account the roar of be young lions of congress against a Teto never frightenS the occupant of | he White House.-William Howard |