Milford chronicle., 1920-02-06
THE GROWING MENACE OF AMERICAN AUTOCRACY

(FrOm HarYeys weekly
1t is time halt the advance of American autocracy.
has the last few years tendency more
noticeable to thoughtful observers than that toward the
substitution of by men for government by
Step by step the will of individuals has replaced the
judgment of representative bodies In time of this
perhaps extent necessary But the practice
preceded the and has succeeded it, Some of the most
fragrant and perous quite separate from the
war
The president himself has set perhaps the most con-
spcuous example his nsisence upon arrogating to
himself the and exclusive Of making treaties
he disregarded the clear intent of the constu-
ton 1t by chance that that instrument conjon-
ed the senate with him in making authority That
done the result of long deberaton and as stud
led purposed denotement of the fact that the United
States should radically differ from monarchca cOun-
that respect In the latter, treaties were made
by sovereigns their personal compacts Our consttu
tion-makers that in America treaties should be
by president alone but by the elected
resenaves all the people, the states The president
has tried change all that and to make treaties au-
ocratic instead of democratic.
The posofice department presents another case in
point There purely personal censorship has been
abshed the mail, the extent and power of which is
sought increased by various pending propositions
The postmaster general has arrogated to himself the
thory of determining what publications may and what
may not pass through the mails 1t is of course, right
that he should exclude forbidden by the law. 1t
Judge of the facts in every and deny the
right OF appeal the 1t would be rational to
say that sheriff is to punish murderers with death and
is constitute himself the judge and jury in each
to determine the guilt of the prisoner well to exc
cute the Sentence of the law.
The navy department displays example, different in
character, the effect There the secretary
purely administrative officer. constitutes himself both
legislative and judicial department. He makes law
which congress would never dream of enacng denying
he right of free speech to naval officers and then be-
comes the sole judge of both the law and the facts in
every case of violation of the order. :
Now another striking Congress has very q
properly provided the deportation of criminal aliens
But the secretary of labor constitutes himself the sole
udge OF the law and the facts Accusations against aliens
IRE submitted to him; he determines whether they are
veil founded and proved be he determines the ap
caby of the law to them and puts it into execution.
n such of justice simply do not exist The
ecrsary of labor is the whole thing" e
This last instance is in respects the most Objec
onabe of ALL because brings suspicion and reproach
pom what is probably perfectly good Aliens who d
oma hithey plot for the forcibe the
rican government should be depored But such a pro-
should be executed according to the forms of law,
nd not by virtue of individual will The constitution
ever intended shat cabinet officer should judge ia
nd jury HIS acting thus gives occasion for suspicion
Injustice and gives opportunity for the reproach that
America autocraey prevails, that the word of f
nge man. men be arrested imprisoned and deport II
d. re
1t is for the sake of vindicatng and uphodng the JUS
ce and the majesty OF the American that hi
oud have these autocrac performers abated 1t is be-
luse want to immoral and seditious stuff denied a.
le privilege of the mails that want to its eXcus
IN based upon better judgment than personal cl
him or prejudice of Mr. Bureson 1t is because oI
see the country freed and kept free from alien crm n
al conspiraors that want to them expelled
me better hasis of law and fact than mere person tn
judgment Of the secretary OF labor 10
e' us nave laws haue oy congress- not Dy admnis- H.
ave Order and let have them interpreted and ap- P
led by the by subordinate executive officers at
tt