The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-21
TAFT TELLS WHAT THE PRESIDENT
Or The UNITED STATES CANNOT DO

y dChucIllCdI ulSSeTtatlOn upon
N The powers and the limita-
y tons. the worries and the re-
possibilities attached TO the
Presidential office Of the United States
al, a former occupant Of the Presiden-
nl chair may not be quite as absorb
iogly interesting to Canadians as one
1 with. for Instance. neutrality as its
tbcmc. but the audiences that crowded
convocation Hall Of the University OF
Toronto in Toronto to hear William
toward Tdft's four lectures recently
did not show any signs OF being bored.
AZ a iurist Of international repute. n
philosopher more than a politician. a
deep thinker with the courage to state
his views whether they please or not,
NJ. Taft ~ regarded In Canada an we'll
worth listening to. no matter what
his subject. Added to these oualih-
Nttons, his hearers appreciated the
,act that he has an unfailing store
II humor that bubbles up constantly
through even his most serious arxu-
ments.
We tried TO make a government
bkore you did said Mr.. Taft. we
Ike our form Of government and you
Ike yours. As Abraham Lincoln said.
10 those that like that sor, Of a dog
ina, Is just the kind OF a dog they
would Ike
Brother Bryan. Justice Riddeli and
myself have been called tho champion
nng distance takers" continued Mr..
Taft. ut would be idle TO discuss
whether the British Parliamentary
system, with a King who reigned but
I'D not rule. was better than the rigid
American system, which maintained a
President or a Governor-General who
presided but did not govern"
Mr.. Tai; may not have had much
cause for laughing during his occu-
pancy Of the White House, nut now.
happily free q. state worries, like
The boy who doesn't care" he a
laugh and make others laugh at some
d his experiences.
Il was at one time in favor Of
making the term of the Presidency
seven years, and seven years only,
, without a second term. but that was
entirely my personal view" he re-
marked.
In speaking OF the rule OF the ma
'oriy and the necessity N making
he term OF the President one OF four
years Mr.. Taft remarked that he
could quite imagine that IL the situa-
Ton ever with "A Republican
majority II fifty Joe Cannons In power
nothing would eve convince them II
vas time for a change. IT'S differ
ent in Canada" INTERCEPTED Mr.. Taft
amid laughter.
The former Presidents lectures at
The university covered the three prin-
cpal phases Of the duties OF the
Pesident-the executive. the legisla-
tive and the judicial duties. He dealt
With the widening OF the duties OF the
Chief Executive as a result Of the in
creasing Capitalization of administra-
ion. Passing To the powers Of the
President he took up the veto. Mr..
Ta.t declared that the veto was often
regarded as purely executive, but he
I'D not consider II so. The President
I'D not take any part in framing
egtslaticn. o could he alter any
part Of il, but he did not think II was
contemplated that a President should
veo a bill only when he believed II
u b. unconstitutional: he must con-
rder rs expediency and the wisdom
o. the
Tt doesn't rock the boat so much
70 appeal to friends in Congress to
treat the bill as TO exercise the royal
~pre-ogative which defeats the will