The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-04-11
PRESIDENT CAN'T RUN"
AMERICAN PEOPLE

A good many Americans who favor
a League of Nations in the abstract
are absolutely out of sympathy with
the Presidents manner ofAseeking to
attain his desires. They do not like
the way in which he ignored congress
sional advice before he set out for
Europe. They do notithink he ought
to have gone to Europe1at all They
resent the taking over Of the cables
just prior to his departure. They OBJ
ject to the atmosphere Of privacy with
which he has persistently surrounded
his purpose. They see in his abandon
ment of congress at time when pub
| lie business of vital importance was
pending an unwarranted decision as to
Where his path of duty lay. They see
in his refusal to call congress into
special session before he returns to
America next June a. dangerous post
ponement of the peoples business, and
they cannot escape the strong impress
sion that he is moved to, this course
by his unwillingness to- have his
League of Nations plan debatedsat the
capitol during his absence.
| In short, along with the League of
Nations issue goes the issue OF Mr..
Wilson's imperialistic tendencies.
During the actual progress OF the war
the American people willingly sur
rendered many of their vested rights
to the executive for the sake of an
increased military efficiency at WASH
ington. They saw the necessity of
concentrating authority in the White
House. But now that the fighting is
| l.. lso1 he
tinuance of wartime methods. They
want the government restored to its
old popular basis. What will it profit
us to gain the whole world-in the
form of League of Nations-and
lose our own liberties!
I The lesson that Mr.. Wilson must
LEARN is that neither he nor any other
man. can permanently "run. the
American people. He is, or ought to
be, their servant. They gave him a
strong hint of this on. November5, but
he does not seem to have porfited by
it. Hesprofesses to be trying to- speak
the nations will, but his version OF
this will is deeply influenced by his
Town personal ideas.
In discussing the failure to- pass
needed legislation the Democrats
charge the Republicans with the
respon sibilitv and the Republicans
retort in kind. = Asra matter of fact
Mr.. Wilson himself, by absenting him.
self from his post of duty, has had
good deal to do. with il. But whose.
ever is the fault. the President does
not propose to. remedy it by calling
congress into extra session during the
spring months, which are the pleasant
est of the year in Washington. To dc
so would, indeed, facilitate the public
business. but it would also give hi.
critics in congress a chance to discus.
lin public the proceedings of the EPeac,
Conference at Paris, and that NIGH
grievousiy interfere with his arrange
ments. Heais sufficient unto himsel
and will do the discussing when th'
( time comes-that Is when he returns
home in June.
, But we are not yet ready for
dictatorship OF for an assumption o
: all the various branches of demo
cratic government by leader whit
for three years suppressed the voic'
and the very soul OF the American
people, and who has never adheret
, 10 one policy for three months at
.,..n Drzx,s1a.ea Inuruat