The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-02-29
Isthe Presidency Developing
Into Something NOtFOreseen

tempting, a great work OF reform and
who has not had time to finish 1T.
ITO change the term to six years
would be to increase the likelihood
of its being too long without any as
surance. that in happy circumstances,
II would be long enough. A fixed
contitutional limitation to a single
term OF office is highly arbitrary and
unsatisfactory from every point of
view"
The next paragraph in the presi-
dents letter is that used in the open
ing paragraph of this article. He
continues:
Position OF Presidency Unsatisfactory
81 must speak with absolute free
dom and candor in this matter or
not speak at all. and 1t seems to me
the present position of the presi-
dency In our actual system, as we
use It. is quite abnormal and MUST
LEAD TO OMETHING VERY
DIFFERENT.
He IL expected by the nation to
be the leader of his party as we'll as
the chief executive OF the nation, and
the country will take no excuses from
him"
Here Is the answer to what Wood
row Wilson thinks OF a third presi-
dental term. IL is clearly apparent
that whatever may be the opinion
Of others, this astere mind that
brushed aside a platform plank Of
binding force and stood boldly
against any arbitrary" limits on
the duration of president's incum-
bency is undeterred by any, foolish
precedents concerning third or
even IA fourth cup of coffee"
Continuing his letter to Mr.. Pal
mer the president writes:
"He must he prime minister, as
much concerned with the guidance
of legislation as with the just and
orderly execution of the law, and he
Is the spokesman of the nation in
everything. even the most moment
Gus and most delicate dealings of
the government with foreign ma
tons"
Who will charge that the presi-
dent has failed 10 live up to this con-
ception of the presidency? or won
der, now. tina, his record reads as
II does No limit to the presidential
term-no limit to the presidential
authority That was the Wilson CON
ception of the presidency six years
ago, And he said that Il must
eventually grow into something very
different from what It then wasl
What he meant by this statement
is indicated in the next paragraph:
Power and stu More Power.
The present fact is that the prei-
dent is held responsible for what
happens in Washington in every
large matter, and so long as he is
commanded to lead he is surely en-
titled to a certain amount OF power
all the power he can get from the
support and convictions and opinions
of his fellow countrymen; and he
ought TO be suffered to use that
power against his opponents until
his work Is done"
Observe, please. that the president
does not refer to any constitutional
or statutory limitation OF executive
power, Not n bit OF II. What he
boldly proclaims is the executive
right to arrogate every vestiCe OF
power that public opinion will per-
NIT, and to use that power unspar-
ingly against those who oppose the
executive will
\ bolder declaration for unre-
stricted executive authority was
never made. Whatever the execu-
tive can do and get away with, that
is his clear right to do. That is the
Wtlsonian doctrine; the Wilson idea
OF what the presidency is growing
into.
Continuing on the subject of limit
ing the executive term the president
wrote:
Must Instill Fear.
las things stand now the people
might more likely be cheated than
served by further limitations of the
nrAgfhRnf'4 oil ipfhflf4r
power in their behalf would be i'm