The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-10-07
THE POWER or THE PRESIDENT

In that extremely able WORK Wnlcf
every student of the history Of oul
country should know. The American
Commonwealth" Lord Bryce says tina,
Abraham Lincoln welded more an
thority than any Englishman since
Oliver Cromwell
Ii il were true in Lincoln's day
think Of the enormous power that is
in the hands of President Wilson at
this time. 1t could hardly be greater
If he were declared military dictat :
or, since he has practically all of the
powers of that office. So great is his
authority that If the entire cabine,
were to resign tomorrow the presi-
dent could quite easily conduct the at-
fairs Of the departments with such
assistance as he could obtain by con
scription. All the enormous war prep
arations would continue as though
nothing had happened.
The powers of the president unde,
ordinary conditions are very great, hut
at present, in war time, they are al
most unlimited.
Besides holding the power of life
and death the president has the power
to regulate the manipulation OF food
prices, the boarding of food stuffs and
to put q stop to speculation, He may
also regulate the distribution and sale
Of fuel, farm implements and othe,
things that are entering into the pric.
of food. As we have lately seen, hi
may fix the price Of wheat, coal anG
steel. and he may also license tn.
importation, manufacture. storage anf
distribution Of neccssaries. He ma.
enter into the business Of purchasing
and selling foodstuffs and fix The
profit and price to the producer an,
consumer. He may take over an,
operate mines. and has the power IL
direct the shipments Of railroads anc
common carriers by water. He ma,
secure the preferential shipment b,
the common carriers of certain classes
OF freight.
Under a well established preceden,
the president may use the armed
forces of the United States to proven,
any effort to retard the passage OF
mails or of freight in interstate com
merce. Under the embargo act h.
may withhold clearance Of any vessel
believed 10 be carrying fuel arms or
ammunition To any enemy of the
United States. He also has the DOW 81
under this same authority of forbid
ding exports of any articles which he
may mention in 4 proclamation. He
may take over ship yards and seize
other output for the government OF
may requisition any ship under con :
struction in this country for private
purchaser or foreign government. He
may direct the construction of a mer,
chant fleet TO be used by this country
III lilie ti war.
Besides the president is commander
in chief Of the army and navy OF the
United States with all the vast power
that that title implies.
The difference. OF course. between
dictatorship ant the presidency
hndef these conditions IL tina, while
Dictator may hold his office by
virtue OF force. the powers Of the
president are delegated Ia him by the
peoll" through their representatives
and may be removed by the same
process at any time. We believe that
congress, despite some very able aren
!rrhts TO the contrary, acted with
great wisdom in granting this author
ity 10 Tho president The success OF
Germany in The first wears of the war
was adequate evidence that the hes,
results in war are to be obtained by
an autoCratic government. In the
event OF misfortune, President Wilson
win not be able to offer the excuse
that his hands We're tied. and that he
lacked the authority to do the things
which he should have done. the re-
sponsihility has been fully fixed.