The Washington herald., 1918-04-09

In the Introductory to the work,
Congressional Government" which
he wrote many years ago President
Wilson makes some very interesting
observations. We gather a few OF
them for this issue, which are the most
striking and which can easily be ex-
panded by the reader to suit his con-
yenience, whether he would go far
or only little way in pursuit. Mr..
Wilson said:
"Once established the new govern
ment (of the United States had only
the zeal of its friends to fear -
There straightway arose two rival
sects of political Pharisees, each pro-
Tossing a more perfect conformity and
affecting greater ceremonial cleanli-
ness than the other 80 We are now
the first to hear our own countrymen
ask whether the constitution Is still
adapted to serve the purposes for
which it was intended ''' the first
to think of remodeling the administra-
tive machinery Of the federal govern
ment and Of forcing new terms Of re-
sponsibility upon Congress. But while
we have been shielding It from criti-
cism II has slipped away from us"
Then Mr.. Wilson goes on to show
that the constitution was, after all,
only the root of our governmental
system and that it could not be the
vine and leaves and fruit and all.
The growth of our government, he
shows, has demanded delegation of
new powers and the enactment of
new measures which hardly square
with the fundamental law Of the
nation.
Great as these words were then,
we are constrained to believe they are
more applicable at this time than at
any other time in the Presidents
knowledge. The war has brought on
new conditions which make 1t neces-
sary, in the Presidents mind, to do
things which were not thought of
when the old and honored document
was in the making. The new turns
must be taken IL we are to go ahead.
We must ignore the inconsistencies
with our organic law and live ahead
as II these did not exist. A new
demand, in other words. is less to he
violated than an old principle. We
can observe the latter and cripple our
selves in the new problems-or we can
meet the new demands and stand con-
victed Of no greater charge than will
fully disregarding the foundation stone
of our government. The choice is not
an easy one, according to the Presiden-
tial sum-up, but necessity gives US
short time to debate II. We must act
and think afterward. And we must
leave it. to the future to Judge which
course will have been proved the
better.
The drive on Amiens is having it's
effect on lawmakers, as on rank and
Gle folks on this side OF the water.
The solons are planning on getting
through with the important legislation
as soon as they can, although this
may not necessarily mean that they
will feel like leaving town at the first
moment The anxiety to get on the
ground with the home folks who are
to pass upon candidates. this fall is
very pronounced, OF course, but the
spirit Of Americanism pervades the
atmosphere quite generally at the
Capitol. 1t can be said to the credit
of the members that they would rather
do their part here. than leave too
soon and not attend to all their bust
ness.
Senator Gallinger speaks rather
caustically when he mentions the
Presidents part in the Wisconsin
campaign and when he talks among
his fellow Republicans Of the
speech made by Vice President
Marshall in Lenroot's State. The
majority OF Republicans are will
ing to forego pure partisanship If
the Democrats will do the same.
but they want to see evidences of
genuineness in It before they 60 all
the way. The Iowa situation, where
Senator Kenyon is to have no op
position on account of such a
decision being reached by the
Democrats of that State, is anus
ing to most Republicans. They say
q Democrat wouldn't have any show
against Kenyon out there anyway,