New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-23
TOO MUCH PRESIDENT
The Power and Duration Of tho
Office a Danger.

10 the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir, Colonel Harvey. Senator Borah and
other, have lent the weight Of their guard
"a Endorsement 20 question I find pretty
generally discussed: "Ilas the President
too much power?7 By which IS meant has
.bi, ogcs-created at the time Of the Con
stitution b. e comparatively few enthl.l
astic citizens loyal 20 leader-quite kept
pace with tho intricate expansion OF me
country Those who put this question Illus
trat. By NJ. Wilson, the present incumbent
having taken a walk BY himself when the
rusitania matter came Up FOR decision. II
h, contended that the Kaiser himself could
not dispose Of a matter OF such moment
In 20 simple way.
There is. however, far more vital aspect
n the question int alas the President TOO
much timer"
Many already discuss It. Il Is conserya-
tive enough 20 say that the world moves
four times as fast to-day as It did when
he Office was created The four years
incumbency A1ed thon have practically be-
come sixteen. Our ancestors would con-
slider Il sixteen. Thus, the people are four
times as far from voice IN government
This government by the people It IS sig
.acan, that the last three incumbents have
become widely unpopular before tho end
Of their terms Is this due to the men, or
10 the rigid, long abiding power OF The
Object
A crisis brings tho test. England king
dom. has already changed governments by
system which does not allow the Cabinet
TO remain in power unless It represents n
Parliament majority. Parliament cannot
remain IN power unless 80 represents the
noopla In less than n.month England can
change rs government policy. We must
wait four years, fretting and Tuning if we
wish. Our press can only tell us that one
man has gone out for walk and come back
20 continue the writing OF our history.
Terrific dangers Turk in this system Of
government, IN this granting 10 one man
such an interval and such a power Con-
ditions chanee-very rapidly nowadays.
England has found Il 80. Men chosen for
capacity IN certain eventualties proved
weak facing others. England changed men,
quickly, repeatedly IA the government, The
army, all the bureaus. 70 is still changing.
Here we have the one expedicn., :mneach-
ment: and that carries with IL so great q
stigma Of penalty, Of disgrace, as 70 be I'M
menuonable except in the last bitter ruin.
All our business exists by that axiom Of
modern efficiency, the right man for the
Job" Our government exists By itself
There arc those who say "Stand by the
President" This false sentiment should be
eschewed IN government as well "a business.
Stand by the country" IS the only serti-
ment that the flag can be raised TO- Il IS
quito conceivable with our system that an
incumbent could be so untitled for q great
crisis as 90 drift us into situation where
wo shou.d DE called upon 10 lay down our
lives for tho furtherance Of some silly
political ambition. Those Of Va whose am
cestors 60 back 20 the Revolution. who are
not concerned primarily with politics, with
business or with propaganda, are quite
willing 70 lay down our lives, but will do
20 In accordance with tho traditions Of
l775. There Is greater menace In this
country to-day than tho German menace
~ Il the menace OF those who believe that
America should stand for its birthright-
liberty. They Will fight on tho side Of
liberty
Tho English think that they are lighting
our battles for us. battles which we were TOO
proud TO ieat ourselves, but for which so
are quite ready TO supply arms. provided We
cet the money for them. Many o. as in
shame have gone into their armies and
humbly died that the English might know
that America was willing 70 fght es wei
As talk. FOR humanity. Nov that even tho