The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-02-14

has studied our political development
at all that the character OF the Fresi-
dCnCy is passing through transitional
stage. We know that the office is now
and what use must be made OF II; nut we
do not known what II is going TO work
out into: and until We do know. We shall
not know what constitutional cnanSe
IL any, is needed, it would be best to
make,
Il mus, speak with absolute freedom
and candor IN this matter. or not speak
at all; and Il seems to me that the pres
ent position OF the Presidency in our
actual system. as we use II. is quite all
normal and must lead eventually 10
something very different.
"He is expected by the nation 10 be
the leader Of his party as well as the
chief executive officer OF the Govern
ment and the country will take no. en-
cuses from him. He must play the part
and play IL successfully or lose the
countrys confidence He must be prime
minister, as much concerned with the
guidance Of legislation as with the just
and orderly execution Of law, and he Is
the spokesman Of the nation in every
thing. oven the most momcntous and
most delicate dealings Of the Govern
mrnt with foreign nations.
The present fact Is that the PrcsIdcn.
- surely entitled TO certain amount
Washington in every large matter. and
80 long rs he ~ commanded 10 had n
~ surely entitled 10 certain amount
Of ruwrr-all the power he can got
from the support and convictions and
opinions Of hts fellow countrym"n; and
hN ought 10 hc suffered to use thai
power against his opponents until his
WORK is done.
As things stand now th" people
might more lkrIy hr cheated than scrv-
cd by further limItauUns Of the Pr"Si'
IN their behalf would he immensely
Weakened. M one Will fear rr, sid"n.
except lhos" whom hr can make Tor lear
tn" elections.
We sIngularly h"I,c our own priv
clples by seeking 10 dcicrmu" by tix"d
constitutional provision what the peopI"
shall determine for themselves and Al"
perfectly COMPETENT to determine for
themselves "" cast n doubt upon In"
whol" theory of popular governments.
Il h"ilCN" that We should fatally "n-
harruSs ourselves II We mad" IN" con-
Stitutional changes proposed.
How politicians Interpret Letter.
Admitting thai thcs" AZ" hri"i "N-
tracts from long letter. tn fact TO-
mains that politicians. both tt tn" 'in"
ana row. interpret thcs" passages ~
meaning ,haI Pres Idrut Wilson Is WHO'LL
uunoV.rl hI thu rule Of custom that
prevents u President from .''EinE !
third term II" may now haI" other
reasons for declining third term. nu-
he has not that reason. And the poll
iIciaus. IN making differences about IN"
PRESIDENTS position on ConCret" cas-
md further evidence III the letter whiIh
Mr. Wilson seat 10 III" recent jackson
Duy dinner. tn" ESSENTIAL parts OF which
said.
"'rh" question q whether this country
will enter C,hr League 81 Nationsl and
enter whulch"art"dly -. Personally. !
Iu not accept tho action of tn" senate
of the United states ~ M" decision "l
the nation $500. We Cann"t r"writc TINS
treaty. W" must Iak" IL without
changes which alter lis meaning. or
leave IL. If there ~ any doubt a
10 wha, tho people Of tins country
think on this vital matter. the clear anu
single way ont is IL submit II for de-
termination at the next election Of IN"
voters Of Ia" nation. to give tho next
election IN" form "t great ana soIc""
rrfrrcndum."
II must hc conceded that II = not an
unrca sonahl" assumption on Inc part "L
1hc politicians that If Inc LeaEh" q,
Nations should h". ms the President a.
Ihal time wished. the great ISSUE IN ih'
coming campaigu. 'hcn the Prcsldch'
himself would he the only person VII"
would he on appr0print" candidat" 10
rcrsoniry that issue and lead =.
The net OF All INES ~ lh' NAV nv
Washington. hcing denied adequate" m
formation about tn" Presidents hcaln,
sprculatns ON tho uatur" OF his hIhS-H
and the degree Of hts recovery A,u III,
liCves that tho stat" Of his h"ai'h WIZ
h, tho only consideration in dNt"rmih-
Inp whether or not h. Is iN run again.
So much for that If" II Is not as
missed Of hv ANYTHING that - Salu nero
and II cannot he disposed al ny "aH
thing short Of Statcm"n' from 'l'.
President himself, 'Mcanwh'.r, ~ '"t sS
~ that statement remains unSaIo: 81
long az the President remains Slieh'
nm mis- point, his silence has pro
found effect on the CohrS" GA I".S
events which arc To determine WHO ~
candidates Of the Democrats Is 70 Do.
10 is rnsrnnsihIc among other things
undouhredlv for the long hesitation OF
Attorney General Palmer ~ announce
himself as 4 candidate: 1t IS r"Sn"nSioi"
for Mr.. McAdon's long indrc'SIun. a.
though i, ~ also tri" that Mr. vi Au, ~.
has. not vcl clarified his own NINA az I"
whether or not il is prudent Tor h'm 10
sacrifice his present opportunity I"
again enter politics. as, 49,,
Even after Won l"aV" iha' III 'I""N-
ing i, ursolyrd "a vow muSn. Nou are
,,,cr,ly Confronted with several other
IFS" II 'u" President - So'nE !"
,Nnid q inird term candidacy. VIII n"
avoid il merely Ivy S'I"l"". or VIZ ~
nut his dcc'iuhti"n into a i"rna' NC
max. a formal statement. when WI
n,, make IL" Twi"" ALREADY tho Wash
.,urtnu newspapers hav" carried STORIES
of THAI sort whi"h iH' N"Sh'nE ~"
yuhIir has com" {" look upon ~ IcllI
assured from IN" Presidents cntonr-
49,, :, in. effect that within t"w
I.vs IN, President w"u'd max" stair
mont eliminating himself. Til" Jackson
nav dinner was looked '"fWarn 10 49,
'hc occasion when me N'!;,n. -, e.