Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-03-01
Mr.. ROOTS
"kEYNOT {"

Inc speech made by Elihu Roc
at the Republican state convention
in New York declares the Boston
Herald Qnd. Rep.) SIS we'll describ-
ed as keynote speech, for it
dealt forcibly and frankly with the
most pressing issues OF the hour,
and will be widely accepted as a
timely presentation Of Republican
principles" In this speech the Salt
Lake Tribune (Rep) thinks Mr..
Root has outlined the platform up.
on which the Republicans will 90
to the country"
Mr.. Root placed his principal
emphasis on the need for curtail.
ing the "autoeratie" powers OF the
president, which the Seattle Times
dnd,) regards as the biggest po-
litical ques ton of the day" The
Rocky Mountain News Gnd.) holds
She same opinions and says:
What Mr.. Root advocates in de-
Capitalization Of executive author
ly has its main support in what
has taken place in the last year at
the White House. The president Of
our republic is clothed with, or has
assumed. more power than is Civ.
en- to any other head of nation,
be he an elected officer or hered-
itary king. The war was the enter
Ing wedge; with the end ofo the war
The wedge was not withdrawn but
pushed farther 1t is the duty Of the
Republican party TO make this ma
ton safe for democracy and free
ha
cy."
WELDING such absolute and I'm.
revokable power" comments the
ST. Louis Globe-Democrat (Rep)
a President might involve the ma
ton in serious difficlty without in
any way exceeding his constitution
al limitations" The Boston Trans
eript (Ind. Rep,) urges that the Re
puhlicsN party leaders "rededicate
themsel1es and their party to the
overthrow of 'autocracy by con
sent and the restoration of the
government Of the Constitution"
Democratic papers are not slow
to make UP this challenge. IL the
continuance OF the executives war
powers does constitute grew
ance," remarks the Dallas News
(lnd. Dem.)
st must puzzle most men to see
how the fault can be fastened on
the Democrats since it is the Re-
publicans who have controlled the
legislative branch OF the govern
ment since before the war ended. If
none of those acts comforting auto
cratic power on the president has
been repealed. ii is not because he
las vetoed repeal measures, but be.
cause no repeal measures have been
passed by a republican house and a
Republican senate"
Or, as the Lynchburg News
(Dem.) Puts It;
The present congress has been
in session almost year, and i
during such period The president
has enjoyed too large a decree OF
authority the majority in that body
should have trimmed il. 1t held the
Scissors in its hsnds-whv did It
not resor. 70 The needful clipping
poliey'
In the views Of the Kansas City
Pos Qnd) the continuation OF the
wsr powers Of the president is due
70 the fact hat this country IS
still al war, thanks 10 a Republican
senate, And this is another dues.
lion that Mr. Root tackles in his
speech ratification of ths treaty
with the senate amendments long
before the presidential elections"
says the Portland Oregonian Gnd.
Rep)
The deadlock on lie treaty is
not due 10 differences. Of opinion
between president and senate on it's
terms, fet they nave been reduced
10 mere matter Of phraseology, but
10 the presidents autocratic deter
mination that he shall have uudi.
vided authority over foreign affairs
and TO the senate's equal frmness
in exercising its coordinate power.
AS both Mr.. Root aud Lord Grey
point out, after the treaty is rati.
fed and the League organized. the
way will be open for reform OF the
covenant, and Mr.. Root definitely
proposes this reform after jnaugu.
ration Of a Republican president"
BUT The end sought n This in.
stance thinks the Chattanooga
News (pem) is the election Of a
Republican president, and not he
reform Of the League Of Nations