Evening star., 1923-09-02
Presidency Is Not a
Candy Factory for Nation

my voice or vote to sweeping con-
demnation of our present form OF
government.
Our Constitution, almost forgotten
between friends. unfortunately places
a Limitation upon the legal rights and
duties Of the President of the United
States. This inhibition was based
upon the theory of a representative
democracy, divided into three co-or-
dtnate branches, each supreme with
in its own jurisdiction. The Consu-
tuition specifies how far each OF these
branches. either directly or by impii-
cation, may go. 1t clearly defines the
powers of the President. thereby seek
ing to put curb upon ambition
within and upon pressure without. IL
demands of the President that before
he enter on the execution of his office
he, shall take this oath: u do SOL
emnly swear that I will faithfully eN-
ecute The Office of President OF the
United States. and will, to the best OF
my ability. preserve. protect and de,
fend the Constitution of the United
States" 1t requires him from time
to time to give to the Congress In
formation OF the state of the Union
and recommend to it's consideration
such measures as he shall judge nee
essary and eXpedient: and 1t solemnly
imposes that he shall take care that
the laws be faithfully executed by
this written instrument ne Is not MADE
a cZar or dictator. His VIII is not
to be impressed upon the American
people. He is not responsible for the
Legislation enacted by the Congress
| The duty to enact and the responsl-
bility of enactment rests upon that
body. The President can hardly be
said to be preserving. protecting and
defending the Constitution If he forces
Congress by coercion, duress, re
straint, intimidation or the power ot
patronage to do either those things
which ought to be done or those
things which ought not to be done
We shall come nearer a realization
of our desire to have equal and exact
justice when we shall hold to strict
accountability the men responsible
for this kind of justice. Modern
methods. however. have made the
President of the United States the ac-
! tual and titular leader of his party.
He popularity is held responsible not
| only for the success of his admins
tration. but also for the success of the
party he leads. Personally. I have
! never consented that majority may
work its own sweet will in the re
public Ny stubbornness may be trace
able To the fact that most OF my life
] have been member OF the minority.
member Of the minority ! had as
much right to fair treatment at the
hands OF my government as though ]
were the President himself. | have
never denied the right of President
to be an intense partisan. He may eX-
press his partisanshiD in his recon-
mendations to the Congress and in
his formulation Of administrative
policies. But his partisanship must
not tincture justice. 1t is his duty 10
faithfully executed and il is as much
his duty to preserve the rights of the
humblest citizen who does not sub
scribe TO his political views as il is
to punish the criminal who is a
powerful member of his own party.
= x = x
Public officials discharge their duties
as the people desire these duties TO be
discharged. II might not be bad
idea to get away from the growing
belief that the President is a good
| fairy" for every incompetent and dis
satisfied citizen. that he runs candy
factory day and night 10 pass out
something they do not have. 1t will
be idle to ask the President to get
back to the Constitution until the
people themselves get back TO it. No
President is to be criticized for lis
tening to the clamor of the public.
| They all are human. not divine. If we
are going TO change the form of our
government. let US do ii openly and
above board: if we are not. let us re-
new a speaking acquaintance with
! the Constitution. Let us cease to
villify the President because he does
not step out of the path of his sworn
duty and heed the cry of every Va
grant cause that may come parading
up Capitol Hill.
Copyright. 1923. by 21st Century Press)