The Washington times., 1922-05-07
Wrote His Messages.

u on the tariff.
Now. I know you1l wish to ask
why on earth didn't 80 fishing In
ths Potomac, or go q Maytns. or IL
I must stay in doors for entertain
ment why I didn't 30 to a moving
picture show and see the sights be-
fore VIII Hays pulls down the our
tain in censorship of selfdetermi-
nation.
didn't 20 because was looking
for sensations or thrills. but I got
both. Not on tariff scheduies. There
are no thrills In schedules to lis
tsners of tho debate. There are
plenty Of knock outs to consumers
after the bill passes
About two years ago every time
I went up to the Senete-tand l
dropped in now and then to be suro
tho Senate was not going to sur
render all powers Of government to
the Chief Executive who in turn
was said to be planning to return
the American colonies to Grea.
Britain)-the men in the press gal
lery were regaled with the su-
preme necessity Of clipping the
wings OF the President of the
United States. We were warned
that tho incumbent Of that office
was usurping all tho powers Of
Congress. becoming a Gar, and
that unless he was speedily curb
"a he would succeed in making
Senators and Congressman in
the Congress Of the United States
little moro than rubber stamps.
WHEN IS A CRISIS A CRISIS'
1T is a crisis for the Repub-
hc," cried out Lodge and Brande-
geo and Harding and Reed and
others who slept with both eyes
open to keep the President from
snatching their togas and pay
and perquisites along with all
their constitutional rights. 1t Is
always a "crisis" when you wish
70 make people think you are on
guard and wish the people to
cry out to you: "Watchman. what
Of the night7" The Same thing
exists today at Genoa that pre-
vailed in the Senate In 1919.
When the election in 1920 gave
power to the party which made
Executive usurpation" the foe Of
Americanism, those who believed
In the infallibility of Congress,
particularly the Senate. felt safe
and secure. The palladium Of
our liberties had been preserved.
the Chief Executive was safely
chained in the White House and
muzzled except when he took ad-
vantage of his constitutional
rights to make a speech to Con-
gress or send It a message.
By the way. making a speech
to Congress in 1913 was regarded
by tho self-appointed defenders Of
the Congressional prerogatives as
aping royalty with its address
from tho throne. I recall an in
cident shortly before President
Wilson broke a century old prece-
dent by delivering his message
to Congress in person instead
Of having It droned out by a
clerk to vacant seats as had
been the custom for decades.
After I knew that Mr.. Wilson
would go in person to tho Capi.
tol to deliver his message I
chanced to meet Senator of
the old school-the sort Of de-
votee of precedent and stately
dignity who would rather shatter
q principle than a precedent. He
was a Democrat.
FEARED FOR WILSON.
What would you think" I ask.
ed casually 'If President Wilson.
instead of sending his recommon.
dations to Congress by a clerk,
should become his own messenger,
bring It up. and read It himself to
the members Of Congress In Joint
assembly," My precedent-contru
ed Senatorial friend was shocked
1T tho very thought Of such I'M
propriety.
Good gracious. Daniels" he said.
IT trust the President is not think
ing of doing anything so unusual
rs that. II so, beg you and the
other members OF the Cabinet to
persuade him not to do It. Such
q departure from the plans of his
predecessors would make a very
unfavorable impression on Con-
Gressmen and tho President would
start Off with the wrong foot fore
most Get him to stick 70 the old
plan
had been made very happy
when the President stated that he
would read his own message to
Congress, being something Of n
nra-aH~nt hr~o Lar v,,,,.>,S go a.. a.