The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-24

SIuQS0IS Oh pOlltiCS III ISldLOu "
the American government are
claiming that the United States is
beginning on a new cycle of politi-
cal life. They assert that for the
next few years, probably a decade,
the senate of the United States will
occupy the dominant position in
governmental affairs.
1t is a matter of historical fact
that since the foundation OF our
government we have passed through
a continuous series of cycles, the
dominant leadership shifting from
the legislative to the executive
branch and back again. The devei-
opment now discerned is a vaTia-
ton of the usual, in that it is the
United States senate. rather than
the entire body of congress, which
has forged to the front Heretofore
the succession has been between
president, and congress as a whole.
To trace the government in re-
cent times, the close of the 18th
century was a period of legislative
control. These cycles are deter
mined by a variety of factors, but
the one which brings about the
leadership of congress is the ex-
istence of one or more great ma
tional issues. In the close of the
18th century the issue was the tar
if. Such questions as tariff and
taxation are in the hands of con-
gress. 1t alone can enact tariff
and revenue laws.
Following the Cleveland panic,
the country was in the mood for a
high protective tariff, and this turn
ed the public attention to congress,
the tariff-framing body. The Nc
Kinley tariff was enacted and con-
gress was the focal point Of the
peoples thoughts.
RooseTeAt's Domination.
Then came the rise OF Theodore
Roosevelt. Here was a personality
OF extraordinary force and magnet
ism coupled with a transition to
new issues. The issue of conserV-
alton of national resources and
various other matters which were
more compactly handled by execu-
tive authority than by legislative,
forced attention to the executive
and away from congress. The
White house held the center of the
stage for years and congress was
an adjunct merely.
The administration of President
the great executive issues being
somewhat dormant, but the momen-
tum of the Roosevelt period car
ried over until the election of
Woodrow Wilson, another domin-
ant personality of a new type to
the presidency. This was followed
by a war which. as a matter of
course, focused public attention on
the president, the commander-in-
chief of the army and navy.
In no previous cycle of American
was so much power
concentrated in the executive as
during the war. 1t represented the
widest amplitude of the swing of
power from legislative to execu-
tive 1t will be remembered how
congress enacted law after law
placing in the hands of the presi-
dent practically unlimited author
ity. Regulation Of the most funda-
mental character was, in some in
stances, imposed by presidential
proclamation rather than by legis-
lative enactment. Prices were fix
ed in his name, the railroads were
taken over and operated, and a
of other governmental
activities carried on.
With the close OF the war the
pendulum started to swing back
AGAIN hrinqiD- in this casa an extra
ordinary difference.
AS the taxing power lies in con-
gress as a whole, so does the power
Of ratifying treaties lie in the hands
Of the United States senate.
One of the elements which brings
about these swings of dominance is
the personality of the chief execu-
tive. 1t will be remembered that
with the treaty signed at Versailles, |
the president fell i'll and was fore |
ed TO retire from public notice and
from conspicuous place before