The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-21
z.XAt. T~~sN OF.
UECEry'I ndLI<Il-
EXECUTIVE POWERS
Was Urged By Elihu Root as One Plank
of Platform on Which Republican
Party Should &c to
the Polls.

the Polls.
New York, Feb. 20--Elihu Root out
lined at the Republican safe conven-
ton here last night the platform upon
which he believes the party should go
to the polls in November. Most strikS
ing of his proposals were;
Decentralization of the executive
powers which have made the President
more autocratic than any sovereign in
the civilized world"
Ratification of the peace treaty with
Senate amendments long befre the
presidential elections"
Reform the league of nations cove
nant by congress of nations at the
call of "a Republican president imme-
diately after March 4, 1921" to estab-
lish "the rule Of public right rather
than the rule of mere expedien'y."
Rigid governmental economy and the
adoption of an executive budget.
Limitation of the right to strike at
point where 1t conflicts with self
preservation of the community; estab-
lishment of q labor tribunal with pow
er to enforce its mandates
Revision of the system of taxation
(which involves the tariff.
Americanization and the elimination
of "a lot of bolsheviki or bolshevik
sympathizers" from public Office.
Universal military training
Mr.. Roots address, made at con-
yention called to recommend four dele
gates at large to the national conven-
ton was regarded as the opening gun
of the campaign It was prepared aft
er informal conferences with the most
distinguished Republicans of The state.
"More important than all, Mr Root
said, sis the necessity that we shall
restore our Republican form OF govern
ment, with the liberty of the individ-
ual citizen preserved by limitations
upon official power, and put an end TO
the dictatorship which we created, In
order to carry on the war. By series
of statutes unprecedented in scope and
liberality, with singleness OF purpose
and patriotic devotion worthy OF all
praise, the American people conferred
upon the president powers broader and
more autocratic than were possessed by
any sovereign in the civilized world.
Our capacity for effort, our fortunes,
our liberty of conduct, our lives, were
freely placed at the disposal OF an ex-
ecutive whose authority was 80 vast
that its limits were imperceptible. The
authority was exercised by the pres.
ident, by his heads of departments, his
bureau chiefs, his government agents,
and his personal agents, to the full.
without question, because the people OF
America were ready for any sacrifice
to win the war.
peace has come, in fact, if not tech
nically; but the war powers OF the ex'
ecutiye still continue. They should be
brought to an end II is not simple
thing. for new conditions have been
created, which should be dealt with at
the same time by new statutes adapted
TO the conditions Of peace, and subject
to the limitations upon power OF our
constitutional system.
There Is a double immediate pur-
pose to be served. One, to restore the
habit Of freedom. 1t is dangerous for
people TO acquire the habit of bowling
TO power without limits. They soon
become subservient and then character
essential to freedom degenerates. The
other is to stop a multitude Of inter
ferences, ill-judged although we'll
meant, with the natural course of bust
ness through which alone natural laws
can operate to restore normal condi'
tions."
The appeal Of President Wilson in
Tho ola1t on nf 81
Democratic Congress, he declared, was
mot merely an injustice to the Re
publican senators and representatives
who with splendid loyalty had support
ed every forward step Of the admin,
| istration" but at was demand fol
| the continuance of supreme power by
the election of Congress which would
submit itself to the orders of an execu
tive acting at once as party leader II
politics and dictator in government
| II WAS the instinct Of American de
mocracy that repealed the demand
Such long has been the government Of
| Mexico. A government with a Louis
Napoleon at one end and plebiscit'
at the other and with naught but sub
seryience between is not free repub
/ lie. 1t is autocrscy by consent.
"The presidents defiance Of the au
/ thoritv Of the Senate to advise upor
the covenant Of the league of nation;
and 10 give or withhold its consent e
the ratification of the treaty containing
| IT," he continued, was an assertion 81
right to continue the same autocratit
power. IL was challenge to the right
of any officer Of the United States gov
eminent TO exercise his powers in any
way which had not the approval OF th'
chief executive.
"The president had the constitutions
authority and duty TO negotiate q
treaty. The Senate had the constitu
tional authority and duty to advise
and to consent or refuse to consent il
accordance with their judgment. Thu
right to perform that duty was chal
! 'cnged bv all the tremendous powei
of a president commanding millions o.
civil and military subordinates and con
trolling the expenditures Of billions o
money. Senators were threatened j
! they did not submit their judgment Il
the presidential will
The treaty they were called upon (
consider. Mr.. Root declared, was ia
tally defective in several respects, MOI
only from the standpoint of the vita
interests of the United-States. but con
sidered as an instrument designed g
secure the future peace Of the world.
II was the duty Of the senators, h
4 said. to "test the true meaning of every
paragraph. to consider the conditions
which the provisions were to meet, Z
estimate the human forces of self-in
terest and prejudice and passion undel
tho influence OF which the treaty wa