Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-11-01
Question of Constitutional
Government 4
F. C. Winston in Minneapolis Journal.


No man who gives the subject serious con-
sideration can escape the conclusion that for some
wears past we have given little consideration and
little support to those who would preserve Tor
ourselves and those who come. AFTER US III us
integrity the government handed down 10 US by
our fathers. Significantly | note that IN recent
wears the people are looking with admiration to
the exercise on the part of the head of the nation
of what might be called personal government.
which on final analysis means ts-substtutlon III
the place of constitutional government
have read good many times over with gIeat
interest a little volume entitled, he Fresioeh.
of the United States" published by Harper
Brothers last August, giving the views held by
President Wilson in 1908, at time when ne had
no reason to expect that he would be called upon
to preside over the destinies OF the nation. In
this little book Mr.. Wilson is quoted as saying,
among other things, that THE attempt on tne part
of the president to overbear congress by arbitrary
acts which ignore the laws or virtually override
them, is destructive Of the fundamental under
standings of constitutional government ana there
for of constitutional government ITSELF In otner
words duress imposed upon congress IS &C.
structive.
In the Adamson bill did he or did he not add
the great power and influence OF his ONCE TO the
duress imposed on congress by the methods OF the
brotherhoods? No man can question, however, tne
fact that congress was acting under duress III The
tatives of the people, and that surrender shonld
warn us that forces are at work tending to the
undermining of and eventually to the destruction
OF constitutional government They were given
limited time in which to act; they were told NOT
X 10 dot an "i' or cross IT." the president was
told to sign this bill on Sunday, and the thing
was done in manner which tells us that, II we
would preserve to ourselves and to future genera
tons orderly government we must rebuke those
who have been guilty Of an gnominious surrender
and violation of the obligations that they as
sumed on taking office, which obligation imposes
on them under oath the duty OF defending the
constitution of the United States.
1t is significant also that the president should
have rewarded those responsible, by the presenta-
ton of each head of each brotherhood concerned,
as a souvenir OF the occasion, pen used in the
signing OF his name to piece of legislation the
enactment of which at the time and in the manner
in which it was done brings blush OF shame to
the cheek of every man who loves his government.
Further this leads US regretfully to conclude that
the transaction met with the full approval OF the
head OF our nation, thus encouraging repetion
on the part OF those who would choose to do like
wise in the future.
have been all my life a friend of the work
ingman, because have felt that all men should
feel friendly and act considerably to those who
earn their living by the sweat OF the brow.
have been democrat because l felt that the
constitutional government under which we life
was conceived in the brain Of an unselhsh man
who desired to throw around the helpless the
mantle Of protection. Such government must be
preserved in the interest OF working people
themselves but in order that it may be preserved,
the government must be entrusted to those who
will resist any attempt on the part OF any portion
OF society to invade the legislative hall and wiring
from government under duress the passage OF
laws without due consideration. This bill, passed
as it was, comes under Mr. Wilson's definition
,,,l hat 1lya ntUaa
duty as citizens to come to governmental pro-
lection.
Whether or not promise was given or i'm
piled, to the democratic leaders, that they should
receive at the polls in November, as a reward,
votes on the part OF the brot he Noyem-
hoods fell that payment is due for services rem
dered is evidenced by the fact that they are advs-
ing their members OF their obligation thus to
repay those who they claim have conferred on
them benefits by legislation.
This carrying out of an implied agreement
comes clearly under the definition by Mr.. Wilson
of the things that should not be done, because
of their being destructive. | cannot permit my
sympathy for labor evidenced by my treatment
Of labor through many years. to close my eyes
to my duty to my government
| am justified in my mind in feeling that am
right in doing what | can on November J to
transfer our government to other hands. Feeling
as do that our party and its head have been
weighed in the balance and found wanting as de-
tenders OF constitutional liberties, | shall cast
my vote for Mr. Hughes.
II is with regret that have come to the con-
cusion that the great democratic party, the de-
tenders in the past Of constitutional liberties, are
today destructive agencies, and that they are OPP
portunists.
These things would not have happened under
Washington or Lincoln as the head of Our nation.
They would not have happened under any
day because party leaders feel that the people
have lost interest in the thing which should con-
Germ US the most
| see my duty and propose to perform it. | owe
an obligation and propose to live up to it.