The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-14
The President's Powers.

The Presidents Powers.
The Government of the United
States, whatever its faults may be at
other times, as a humanity organized
system, becomes in war a model of
simplicity and efficiency. Then prac-
ticauy all powers centers in the Ex-
ecutive. Administration, ineits lar
gest sense, is delegated to him. As
Commandments of the Army and
OF the Nations armed forces on land
and sea. He can make or unmake
generals and admirals. He can direct
or alter all campaign plans. He can
move armies or fleets as he chooses.
He may seek or accept advice, but he
may, at his pleasure, ignore Or re-
ject 1t. He is the War Council of the
Nation. He not merely symbolizes
the power of the democracy over
which he rules, but he possesses and
exercises that power. He is virtually
a dictator. His commands are abso-
lutte No other ruler on earth is
clothed with such unlimited discre-
tiOnary authority Yet ne never ceas-
es to be the servant of his people. If
| MS powers are great, so, also are his
| espOnSiblIItleS. He must keep con-
| stantly in view the time when he viii
be called upon for accounting.
It is the prerogative of the Congress
to declare war; and to vote supplies !;
but the President is the instrument
| through which the wishes of Congress
are carried out. There is no need of
new enactmentS. There is no need OF
special legislative instructions. There
is no need of charging department or
of celebrating their functions. The
one word Executive" is all-embrac-
ing. A command beginning "By order
| of the President is backed by the
strength of the Republic. The ma
| chinery is, as it were, automatic. 1t
is all but perfect and wonder of
| wonders, 1t is democratic
One-man power it not a. new thing
on the western side of the Atlantic
Madison directed the war of 1912,
war of 1861 and Mckinley the war of
1898. Not one of the four escaped
criticism. 1t became necessary for
each to dismiss favorites in the Army
and the Navy, to run counter, at
times, to the wishes of the party lead
ers, even to popular beliefs and pre-
JUDGES, but m no instance has the
system proved seriously defective.
Madison, Polk, Lincoln and Nc
kinney all popular at the beginning
and still more popular at the end, for
all came throughtheir wars uscceSs-
fully, were harassed, in the most
critical stages of their tasks, by fault
finders, whose grievances were main
ly of a personal character, and usual
~ rooted in petty jealousies and re-
sentiments. Lincoln described the ex-
perlence as an annoyance from gnats.
In some quarters now, even while the
Nation is still ringing with applause of
woodrow Wilson's State paper of
April End, there is evidence of a ten
dency to impose upon him unsought
advice with regard to those IN whom
he should repose trust and authority
While there can be no sound objec-
ton to proper counsel and conStruc-
tive criticism, it should be remember
ed that the President alone must
bear, on the part of the United States,
the burden of responsibility for the
outcome of this struggle; that by his
acts ne will be judged; and that COM
mon fairness, as well as the welfare
OF the Nation demands that he be left
to work out his plans with freedom.
Trustful loyalty to and support of
the President through the coming
months or years as the case may be,
will be the best service the people as a
whole can render a country.-Chris-
tian Science Monitor.
An ordinance reducing the rates
on electric current to customers of
the city electric light plant, was pass
ed on an emergency. This ordnance
reduces the rate for residence light
ing to &c ped XIV, hour for the first so
XIV. used and to sc for 81 to 100 XIV
and to sc above 100 XIV The power
rate Is reduced to &c and &c occord-
ing to amount OF current used. This IS
general reduction of &c per XIV.
over old rate but the minimum rate
remains the same as before, so the re-
duction viii apply only to those who
use considerable current each month
The ordinance is published In this IS
sue.-LaCrosse Chieftain-
IF You Have ANY Fault