The Washington herald., 1915-04-23
Pendulum Hits Brumbaugh.

Pendulum Hits Brumbaugh.
1t looks as though Gov. Brumbaugh, OF Penn
sylvania, had taken himself out of the Presidential
contest next year. When he was elected governor
by one of those old-time Pennsylvania majorities
in November, many Republicans began to con-
slider him likely man for President The COVER
nor-elect enjoyed his boom until he became COVER
nor in full possession OF the powers and respon-
sibilties of the office His admirers insisted that
he should be governor OF the most modern type
and have a program. He must tell the legislature
what to do, and that it did it. That type of
executive became popular few years ago, but it
has been ovcrworkcd 1t is not popular it
was, either in Washington or throughout the
country. The pendulum is swinging back to the
old idea OF representative government; that the
Legislative branch represents the people quite as
much the executive. and that the members OF
the legislature being elected by districts may have
a better idea OF the local demands OF the people
than the executive
Abraham Lincoln held the old idea and very few
veto messages have the name OF Lincoln attached
to them. More than that, Lincoln when a men,
Der OF Congress in IS4S, expressed himself in favor
OF the old idea. He was speaking the with
Mexico and some OF tho administration representa-
tivcs declared that the President was as much the
representative OF the people Congress. Lin
coin replied:
I'm certain sense. and to certain extent he
is the representative OF the people. He is elected
by them well As Congress is; but can he, in the
nature of things, know the wants OF the people as
we'll 500 other coming from all the various
localities OF the nation2 II So where is the pro-
priety OF having Congress: That the Constitu-
ton gives the President a negative on legislation
all know; hut that this ncCation should be
combined with platforms and other appliances as
to enable him. and in fact almost compel him, 10
take The whole OF legislation into his hands,
is What object to. is what Cen. Taylor OBJ
JcctS to. and is what constitutes the broad dis
;inction between you and To thus transfer
Legislation is clearly to take it from those who
understand with mnutcncsS the interests OF the
people, and give il to ono who docs not and
rot 50 we'll understand it. : We and our can
ddatC in favor OF making Presidential cleo
lions and tho legislation OF tho country distinct
matters: that tho people can cleo, whom they
please without any hindcrancc, only much
may guard against iniraction OF the Corstitu-
ton. undue haste and want OF consideration. The
difference between j. as clear as MONDAY"
Notwithstanding tl'at definition by Lincoln,
good many Republicans have become infatuated
with the old Democratic idea that the executive
i the best and safest representative OF the people;
and have had Republican as we'll as Demo
cratic Presidents and governors vino assumed
that their duty to not only recommend lcgis-
lation, but by the of patronage and other great
powers OF office. compel tho Legislative branch
OF the government to enact it. COY. Brumbaugh
was persuaded to adopt this notion regarding his
powers and PrcrogatiyCS as GOV crnor OF Pcnnsv-
yanja. He made legislative program and advcr-
tscd it: promised the people that it would be car