The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1920-08-13
DEADLoCKs HAVE BEEN FREQUENT

The deadlock between the Executive and Legsla-
tive branches the Government at this time pre-
sents nothing novel in American history 1t has
been of frequent occurrence-so frequent, in
fact, that it in large measure is responsible for
the failure of country to progress as fast as it
ought to. During the last twelve administrations
which will have covered period of AS years when
the Wilson administration retres next March, there
have been twenty years when party in full
control of both branches of the government and 2S
years when single party had undisputed authority
speak for the Nation. The party opposed to the
Chief Executive of the country in control of one
the other both branches of Congress during
the last two years of the Grant Administration, all
of the Hayes Administration the last two years of
the Garfield-Arthur Administration, all of the first
Cleveland Administrations two years of the Harrison
Administration the last two years of the Taft Ad
ADMINISTRATION and is in control of the last two years
Of the second Wilson Administration.
sThis constant recurring situation has caused
many economists in the United States to favor a
Parliamentary government similar that in France
Great Britain and her colonies and other countries
1t has been urged that the parties in the United
States are so evenly matched that the resulting
slant conflict between the different branches of the
government retards progress and prevents and de-
lays the settlement of pressing problems. If we
had but legislative body and it with the power
to select the Executive control it would be easier
for the people to responsive government and
bring about the settlement Of issues.
The even balance between the two parties in the
United States is testified to by the that during
the last twelve administrations Democratic and
Republican parties have each had majores in the
popular branches of twelve Congresses The Ma
tonal House OF Representatives was in Republican
control in the Congresses elected in 1872, 1880,
1888, 1894, 1896, 1898. 1900, 1902 1904 1906 and
1908 and is in control of that elected in 1918 The
Democratic party controlled the Houses of Represea-
tatives elected in 1874. 1876 1878 1882, 1884 1886
1890, 1892, 1910, 1912 1914 and 1916.
In the years between 1870 and the debacle OF the
Democratic Party resulting from the fight over the
free coinage of silver there four Republican ad-
minstrations in the Executive branch the govern
ment and two Democratic. During that time the
Democrats controlled the House OF Representatives
in eight Congresses and the Republicans controlled
il in three Congresses. Since Bryan quit running
for President in 1908 the Democrats have won the
House of Representatives four times and the Repub
licans Between those periods, the days
when Bryan supreme, there eight Repub
can Houses Practically the only periods when one
party in complete control of the government in
all branches were those during the administrations
of Mckinley Roosevelt and Taft when the Republi-
cans in the ascendency and the first six years
OF Wilson's administration when the Democrats were
in full power.