New-York tribune., 1918-10-26
Wants Democratic Con-
qress He Can Mould cab
solutely to His Will"
Says Republicans
Have Given Aid
E,x-President Points to Cru
cial Time Ahead, When
Peace Must Be Settled
By William Howard Taft
By courtesy of The Public Ledger


ike these, the scruples OF taste in his
appeal to the American people for the
return Of Democratic Congress, of
course invites respectful considera-
ton and discussion by every loyal
American citizen OF what he says.
The appeal Of the President is fore
ible but specious. The unified leader
ship he asks is autocratic power in
fields in which the Constitution and
principles of democracy require that
he should consult other representatives
Of the people than himself
In pursuit of his policies he consults
neither his own party nor any other.
He wishes a Democratic Senate, not be-
cause 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 will without consult
ing them. He has visited his displeas-
ure on every Democratic member Of
either house who has differed with him
and called upon that members constit-
uency to reject him.
Does Nation Need a Dictator?
Is it necessary for the country's well
fare that he should be absolutely
ruler of this nation for the two years
ensuing from March next? That is
the premise upon which the soundness
Of his appeal, in its ultimate analysis,
must rest. Do we need during the life
of the next Congress a dictator? One
who knows the facts of this war, and
and popular government, must answer
TO. The war is nearly won. 1t may
take q year longer. We hope it will
be less. The complex questions of the
terms of peace are to be settled in the
term of the Congress now to be elected
The still more difficult questions Of
reconstruction after the war are to be
met by that Congress. Do the Ameri
can 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 uncontrolled
will of Woodrow Wilson? That is the
issue which he puts to them in his ap-
peal.
unless you give me uncontrolled
power, you repudiate me and my lead
ership before the world"
Aut Cesar aut nullus.
Has Unprecedented Power
Never in the history of this country
has the President had such vast and
unlimited power as he has to-day. 1t
has been often exercised through agen-
c.es selected by him without great con-
s'deration of the individual. Far too
many instances of partisanship in the
selection of these agencies are known
OF all men to give point to the Presi-
dents disclaimer of thought of party
N this appeal. The people have re-
strained protest against arbitrary exer-
else Of power in their anxiety to win
the war. The power which the Pres-
dent has was voted to him by the Re-
publicans in both houses. They mani
rested no partisan desire to withhold
u IN spite of the knowledge that it
would tempt the use Of it for partisan
purposes
The great measure for which the
resident can claim credit in this war
RI 81 |.
could not have secured but for Re-
publican support. The second he did
not initiate until four months after he
nad first rejected it and until after
"epublcans and certain Democrats he
nad prescribed for differing with him
rad forced it upon his reluctant atten-
t0n,
Says Statement Is Untrue
But for the Republican Congress
Monai support that he has had in this
war he could not have conducted it
W lts present status. He charges Re-
publican leaders with seeking to take
.L .ie choice Of policy and conduct of
nus war out of his hands by putting
!. under instrumentalities of their
own choosing.
:, inc difficulty with this statement
% mat 1t is not true. The mere men
ois work in thi. Congress answers
very reflection the President makes
'" uIe .ne Republican minority.
"hat the Republican leaders at
pnpted to do was to furnish the
,;seSidcnt with an executive organiza
n o.oh by which he might carry on the
,S yaf more effectively. There was not
n", ". shghtest suggestion that he was
ri.o v1 70 appoint those who were to exer-
10y sms the powers under his supervision
an, dna direction. He did not wish to
cc;I'egate power to his appointees suffi-
bI' en' TO enable them to achieve what
"ad 70 be done and so objected.
MI III 'he end he was driven to do in
h"s .Sie awkward way that which months
bb;;.ore the Republicans sought to give
tha thu 1syhectlve machinery to do. Thus
e nt. war Council of Mr.. Baker passed
tin;. h,H innocuous desuetude, while Stet-
wn u,".us and Goethals, first rejected,
we gwen requisite power.
Alleges "Lamentable" Waste.
Thus Denman was put forward, with
= fnaS,nI' then another, then another and
str;.ty ochwab was given the unre-
listed chance to push the making of
w.s." 80 with aviation, lamentable
49, 80 as.5 failure came first and then
thnsawss ~a WIN requisite headship and au-
"yWr,ey IS doing the lob
wat was it that stimulated a re-