The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-31
NOT oNE-MAN GOVERNMENT
So One Paper sIs Inclined to Doubt
Hoover's Possibilities.

The New York World has persuaded
itself that the practical politicians in
both parties "are in CONSERVATION" as
result Of its Hoover for President"
editorial 1t is encouraged to believe
that Democrats, Republicans, and in
dependents everywhere are looking to
Mr. Hoover TO deliver the country
from false issues and sham battles. +"
But granted that the country is tired
of politicians and their ways, and
granted that Mr.. Hoover is put up by
some party and elected. how would he
be able to carry ont the program of
deliverance, whatever it may be, that
| The World has in mind? The exeeu-
| tive is only one branch of the govern
ment, and Mr. Hoover would have both
Congress and the supreme court to
reckon with. Congress might take an
| entirely different view OF questions
from that taken by the president, and
might be just as insistent on that view
as the Senate is at the present time
with respect to the peace treaty. Take
another illustration:
President Wilson urged Congress TO
modify wartime" prohibition so far
as beer and wine were concerned, but
Congress would not listen to the sug-
gestion He subsequently vetoed the
enforcement act on the ground that the
occasion for such prohibition had ceased
to exist. but Congress, with astonish-
ing celebrity, passed the bill over his
veto Here was just the kind OF false
issue and sham that The World has in
mind in putting forward Mr.. Hoover as
the man to deliver the country, yet its
present idol. Mr.. Wilson, OF vastly
greater experience in politics and
craftsmanship. was unable to effect the
deliverance of his eountrymen from
this transparent legislative lie. Then
when this choice piece of hypoerjsy was
brought to the attention of the SUI
preme court. that distinguished tribu-
nal quite properly ruled that the wis
dom of congressional acts was none
OF its concern; that it could merely
pass ON the question Of the laws con
stitutionalty, which it unfeelingly pro-
ceeded to do.
Now this. of course, was most eX-
asperating situation. Here was the
president. doing his very best to get
rid of fake issue and downright
sham, vet he couldn't bulge Congress,
nor could he order the supreme court
around. We mistrust that similar EN-
barrassment would arise IL Mr.. Hoover
were elected president on platform
that pledged him TO deliver the country
from frauds. humbugs, takers and trim
ming politicians. Nothing =hort of a
constitutional amendment would enable
him TO function as the entire govern
ment. For it is ineonceivabie that IN
achieving infinite wisdom and purity OF
motive through the enthroning oil
Hoover. the people would at the same
time elect a Congress just as pure, holy
and wise. or that all the members OF
The supreme court would hand in their
designations in order that the benevo-
lent despot might pack Il with men
who would think exactly "a he Thought
We feel much sympathy for The
Worlds position: we. too, would like 10
see everything at Washington. and else
where. for that matter. conducted sole
IL with regard to the eternal principles
~ truth We would like 70 see the
eharlatans. the pharisees, the windlam-
mers. the professional uplifters and all
he rest of the tribe with which every
body is familiar. cast into outer dark
ness. But no autoerat Of the breakfast
table can do it. Our government, IKE
ancient Gaul. is still divided into three
parts. each Jealous Of its own constitu-
iional prerogatives. and the people are
not vet ready to overthrow his system
Of checks and balsnces-which some
times works poorly. We admin order
to kaiserize the presidency. Al TINS
has nothing whatever 70 do with MI
Hooverfs qualifications for the Offices
Il merely concerns the notion that some
persons entertain that the president y
he whole works - Springfield Mass
Union.