The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-04
Does Wilson Seek War Powers for
Peace Timesi

Does Wilson Seek War Powers for
Peace finest
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: I
desire to call attention to n point of
great Importance which seems to have
been overlooked In the discussion of
the Presidents appeal TO the nation TO
return a Democratic majority in both
branches Of Congress. An appeal OF
this character is 80 unusual that 1t ia
proper to inquire II the arguments in
Its support are specious or entirely dis
ingenuouA
What particularly desire to call at
tention to 10 the following statement
in the appeal: "In ordinary times would
not feel at liberty to make such an APP
peal to you In ordinary times divided
councils can be endured without per-
manent hurt to the country" and to in
Quire what the President means by the
words Sin ordinary times"
We are at present at war. and the
winning OF the war must be our chief
concern, and there must be no relaxa-
ton OF our efforts because victory seems
now in sight with ensuing peace, but
VIC CaIUOt lbuOIc uldt Whtu ptaCe COftlts
the internal problems of this country
will be as important to its future well
fare as the present problems OF war.
The Government in this country Is not
q parliamentary form OF government.
where the executive changes with every
I;:erse election. Our Government is
ono OF divided responsibility the execu-
tive IL separate from tho legislative.
Woodrow Wilson became first known TO
the public by his book Congressional
Government" in which he severely criti-
cised our form OF government and ia
vored a parliamentary government. His
! present appeal shows that he now be-
lieves that an executive elected for a
term Of years and irremovable should
be untrammelled in any way by the leg
islative power.
Under tho Constitution OF the United
States the President in time Of war has
almost unlimited powers. The Presi-
dent, however. has not deemed his con-
stitutional powers sufficient, and has
demanded from Congress and has re-
ceived greater powers than have ever
been conferred on any former President
or exercised by any past or present ruler
Is 1t not fair. therefore. to inquire
whether the motive underlying his APP
peal IL not a desire to exercise these
great powers after the return OF peace
In this connection a statement In an
address made by one Of our leading bank
ers in September before the convention
of the American Bankers Association
! now seems prophetic:
| OGic!aidom Is In possession. II Is In
| trenched In power beyond what II dared
| to hope for In its fondest dreams. And
/ power Is sweet. oniciaidom and those vino
! feed at Its table will not easily give II up
A President elected for a fixed tern
! with a Congress existing only to reg
| lister and carry out his personal views
and policies IS what the President asks
This is contrary to our fundamental
principles of liberty. II gives the Exec
utive control OF the purse, the power
! OF taxing. Burke in his speech on con-
citation with America said:
| 1t happens. you know, sir. that the grea
| contests for freedom In this country were
! from the earliest times chiefly upon th'
! question Of taxing.
! The colonies draw from you. will
! their life blood, these Ideas ana principles
! The love OF liberty, as with you. hxed aHc
| attached on the specific point Of taxing.
| In other countries the people. more sim
! pie, Of less meroural cast, judge of an II
| principle In government only by an actua
| grievance: here they anticipate the evi
! and Judge the pressure Of tho grievance
| by the badness OF the principle. They
| argue misgovernment at distance. anc
| sniff the approach OF tyranny in ever.
| tainted breeze.
Arc we to-day less Jealous of our lib
critics than our forefathers?
In the hour of peril no one begrudge'
his all to his country. but the business
man, who has learned to his bitter cos
the meaning of the words "the power
to tax involves the power TO destroy
| and who now submits uncomplaininglS
to a destructive system OF taxation ad
mittediy designed by the party In powel
not primarily TO raise revenue for thu
prosecution OF the war. but to punish
certain classes and sections OF the coun
| try. is naturally led to ask definition
| of the "ordlnary times" when II will b.
safe for this country TO return to III
normal form OF government under which
in the past its people so grew in wealth
power and individuality as 20 make then
a determining factor in the present con
| fiict. FREDERICK r. pEi.AfiELp.
| NrU Yong Noyamber Q