The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-30
Next Tuesdays EIection--war Presl-
dent Jekyll and Party Leader Hyde.

Next Tuesdays EIection--war Presl,
dent Jekyll and Party Leader Hyde.
The persistent confusion In Mr.
WILSON'S mind Cor ut least in his
executive words and acts) Of two en-
tlrely different and separate and moi
constitutionally related functions OF
leadership is becoming with every
passing day more apparent to his
fellow countrymen. He told his fel
low countrymen long ago, in his book
on Constitutional Government in the
United States, that these two func.
lions which we regard as properly
distinct are In his own personal con.
ception Of public duty and political
opportunity inseparably and inextrl.
cably interviewer. The whole burden
Of his philosophy Of government un.
der American institutions is the
chance of mastery" which the leader
Of party enjoys when occupying the
White House; mastery for party ad.
vantage obtained by an adroit and
discerning use Of the powers and oc-
casions incident to that occupancy of
an exalted post.
This almost defantly expressed
view has already been exhibited by
THE Sun in extracts from the Presi-
dents writings at a time when his
interest In the subject was academic.
For the present We add only one fur
ther extract, taken from page 2O2 of
Mr.. WILSON'S treatise:
80 far as the Government itself is
concerned there is but one national
voice In the country. and that Is the
voice of the President. His isolation
has quite Unexpectedly been his exalta-
ton. The House represents localities.
Is made up of individuals whose interest
Is the interest Of separate and scattered
constituencies, who are drawn together.
indeed. under a master, the Speaker. but
who are controlled by no natural force
except that of their party. q force out
side the Government rather than within
IL The Senate represents in its turn
regions and interests distinguished by
many conflicting and contrasted pur-
poses united only by exterior party or
sanization and a party spirit not gen
Grated within the chamber itself. Only
the President represents the country as
q whole. and the President himself is
by tho machinery and discipline OF
party. not as a person and functionary.
but as a member of an outside organi-
zation which exists quite independently
Of the executive and legislature"
Theodoctrine Of Presidential mas
terry by personal qualities and for per-
sonal exaltation was interesting
enough in time of peace and when
impersonally considered. In time Of
war. with every executive power i'm
measurably expanded through the
practical, If temporary, necessities Of
abnormal situation, 1t becomes Of su-
preme Importance to know whittier 1t
10 tending and whether It is to be
curbed for the sake of the republics
future by the free suffrage Of free
people. This aspect of the Presi-
dents attitude toward constitutional
limitations and the ordered balance
Of governmental powers prescribed by
the Constitution has been made by his
own choice the issue Of the coming
election of the peoples representa-
lives 1t is clearly perceived and
forcibly presented In speeches like
those of ex-President ROOSEVELT night
before last in Carnegie Hall, by Sen
ator KNOX in the Senate on Monday
afternoon, and by former Senator
BEvEnDdE at South Bend, Indiana,
last evening. One week from this
morning we shall know to what ex-
tent our people accept the Wilson doc
trine of Presidential mastery.
Like a translucent cross section
from a study on a microscopic slide,
We get from the Republican National
Committees catalogue raisonn6( Of
Unit@ States Explosive Inspectors a
typical slice Of the Wilson Admins
tration's system Of dual leadership
in war time. This little census Of
profiteer spoilsmen assembled for par
tisan profit In the name of war eff
cheney comes to hand at exactly the
right moment. There could be no
more nearly perfect illustration Of
Mr.. WILSON'S doctrine, hereInbefore
described. 1t shows with captivating
simplicity and directness the texture
of his unilateral conception of nd.
iourned politics. We commend Il IN
universal attention before the voting
begins 1t supplements the Presi.
dents reminder to US that in grim