The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-10-31
By William Howard Taft.
10y Courtesy of The Public Ledger
Copyright, 1918, by Public
Ledger Company

Ledger company
Philadelphia, Oct. Is. - The Presi-
dent. having put by, in grim times
kkc these, the scruples of taste in his
appeal to the American people for the
return of Democrats Congress, Of
course invites a respectful consider
alton and discussion by every loyal
American citizen of what he says.
The appeal of the President is
forcible but specious. The unified
leadership he asks is autocratic pow
.er in fields in which the Constitution
and principles Of democracy require
that he should consult other represen-
tatives of the people than himself.
In pursuit of his policies he con-
suits neither his own party nor any
ether. He wishes a Democratic SEN
ate, not because he would seek their
assistance in the foreign policy to
which by the fundamental law they
are to advise and consent, but because
he can mould them absolutely to his
VIII without consulting them. He has
visited his displeaure on every DEM
.soratic member of either house who
has differed with him and called upon
that members constituency to reject
-.
Does Nation Need Dictator?
Is it necessary for the country s
welfare that he should be absolutely
ruler of this nation for the two years
ensuing from March next? That is
the premise upon which the sound
ness of his appeal, in its ultimate an
alysis, must rest. Do we need during
the life of the next Congress die
tator? One who knows the facts OF
this war, and our part in it, and who
loves liberty and popular government,
must answer no. The war is nearly
won. 1t may take a year longer.
hope it will be less. The complex
questions of the terms of peace are
to be settled in the term of the Con-
gress now to be elected.
The still more difficult questions OF
reconstruction after the ware are to
be met by that Congress. Do the
American people by their action in the
next election wish to make both the
terms of peace and the reconstruction
after the war depend on the uncon-
trolled will of Woodrow Wilson? That
is the issue which he puts to them in
his appeal.
Has Unprecedented Power.
Never in the history Of this country
has the President had such vast and
salimited power as he has to day. 1t
las been nt.cn exerci:e't through
agencies selected by him without
great consideration of the individual.
Far too many instances of partisan
shin in the selection of these agencies
are known of all men to give point to
the Presidents disclaimer of thought
of party in this appeal. The people
have restrained protest against arbi-
trary exercise of power in their anx-
iety to win the war. The power
which the President has was voted to
him by the Republicans in both
houses. They manifested no partisan
: desire to withhold it, in spite OF the
knowledge that it would tempt the
use of it for partisan purposes.
Z The great measure for which the
President can claim credit in this war
are the two draft acts. The first he
could not have secured but for Re-
publican support. The second he did
not initiate until four months after he
had first rejected it and until after
Republicans and certain Democrats
he had prescribed for differing with
him had forced it upon his reluctant
attention.
Says Statement Is Untrue.
But for the Republican Congress
sional support that he has had in this
war he could not have conducted it 70
its present status. He charges he,
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