Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-22

The expression by some senator's OF the pious hope
that the peace treaty and the League Of Nations may not
become involved ia politics is bunk. pure bunk, and the
who have expressed this hope know it. The
both parties, or factions, or whatever they may be, have
been using 1t for the brewing of political medicine. But
the controversy has not been entirely a political one, in
the sense that it was q contest for supremacy between
the two great rival: parties. Aside from this feature, and
asiae hsom considerations of public. interest, there are
many other elements in it, one Of which is the long.
standing resentment OF members Of congress at what they
regard as the Entertainments on their functions by the
executive. and the consequent degradation of congress
from the position Of a coordinate branch of the govern
ment to that of a very secondary and subordinate body.
That feeling is not at all new. We seem to recall.
that George Washington had some experience with it,
and that he was denounced as a tyrant with imperial am
billions for attempting to dictate to congress-. But, with:
out going so far back. those of us who are now on earth
'can>recall within. our own time many evidences of this
feeling. Roosevelt. to go no further back, was repeatedly
charged with landing forcefully on congress. with both
feet and his big stick, and during his administration not
. few congressman Of his own party were highly incensed
at him for his driving methods.
President, Taft. more affable in manner, as a rule,
tnan nh predecessor, c<used mot a little panied surprise
when it became known that he. too, on occasion, was in
|cnned to seize the reins and the whip and do the driving,
ana we nave heard members of congress express them
selves in a manner which indicated their conviction that
whereas Roosevelt had Classified them with whips. TAFT
had classified them with scorpions.
President Wilson'S tendency to tell other people what
to do, and to insist on their doing it, is we'll known, and
We are experiencing some of its results.
Without undertaking to defend any president for the
use. Of dictatorial methods, it may be said that the CON
dittons under which our government operates often call
for a form Of leadership which those who arc led are ant
to resent. Limited though his powers are, the country
Is apt to centralize its thought on him and to fix upon
him responsibility for every important governmental act
or omission. When the copntry wants things done it looks
to the president to get them done. and censures him for
failure to achieve this result. Congressional responsibility
is distributed among many Individuals, and there have
been many occasions on which it was necessary to prod
congress to get action.
With this state of facts existing, and with the feeling
resulting therefrom- well known, It requires no great pen
CREATION TO understand that tho wreckins. pf the presi-
dents plans IN relation to the treaty, though prompted
by other and weishtier motives. has been accompanied
by not . little quiet satisfaction on the part Of some mem.
bers OF congress who have smarted under the feeling that
their own branch of the government was being deprived
OF its position Of honor and dignity by presidential en-
croachrnents. It is easy to imagine their. feeling that this
present experience should be a lesson to all presidents.
present and future. to recognize the fact that congress is
just as big as the president, ana Is to be dealt with on
that basis. 9A a
&EA g=E & - ~ Ek-EEE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.