The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-07-28

How 1t Operates
BY William Bruckart
THE PRESIDENTS JOB

the JoD VI DeluS fTeSlueut OI Tue
United States carries with 1t some
thing more than the honor that at
| taches to that great office. Those who
have observed the performances of
even two or three individuals in their
service as President arrive, believe,
at two irrevocable conclusions re
specting Presidents. One of them pre-
sents problem for which can offer
no solution. The other constitutes a
fact that is glorifcation of a nation
producing such men.
These convictions are, first, that the
office of President of our nation is
burden too great for any one human
being to bear and, second, that no per-
son ever has served long in the Office
without yielding to the guidance of
some impelling religious philosophy,
regardless of the state of mind he had
when he assumed the duties.
1t was only comparatively few
years ago when it was common sight
strolling about the city unattended,
meeting and greeting people. The
tasks were not so onerous in those
days. But the duties of the President
in late years have become so complex,
the responsibilities so great, that his
work actually never is done. And add
to the worries of the office, this fact:
he is never free from criticism, some
of which is sincere but much of which
is purely for political purposes.
AS the nation has pushed forward
and its government has expanded,
more and more responsibility rests
with it's Chief Executive. 1t has re-
suited in a condition wherein the
Presidency carries with it entirely too
much work. The fact long has been
recognized, but the solution is not ap-
parent. A President has Constitu-
tional obligations, and there is no way
by which he can be relieved of them.
1t is obvious to all that the Presi-
dent cannot personally be in touch
with every activity of the far-fiung
governmental machinery, yet he is
held to account for them. He must
leave them to others. He has to be
content with attempts to coordinate
the whole and determine general poll
cies In an organization of some 7O0,-
600 persons, 1t is not difficult to see
how unwise decisions may be reached
by various subordinates, and in our
two-party system of government, the
"outs' overlook no opportunity to cap
italize the mistakes of the Gins" And
so 1t goes. An error or an unwise de-
cision or a piece of malfeasance be-
comes as a SNOWFALL and grows as 1t
rolls.
The President, therefore, has to be
concerned with all of the thousands of
activities, and assume responsibility
for results without being able at the
same time to supervise them except in
directly. Nor is there ever any short
age of CRITICS and agitators to call at
tention to the vulnerable spots.
There are close advisers to the
President, of course. He has his cab
met, but loyal as are the cabinet men,
bers and wise and careful as they may
be. the head of the nation still must
lead. He must frame the policies re-
lating to international. affairs he must
think clearly respecting the nations
economic needs, and he cannot escape
the thought that from every word or
deed of his flows consequences so far
reaching that our nation may be
plunged into war or its whole people
may suffer the privations of "hard
times" Even further, from the things
he says or does may come blasted rep
utations or unmerited riches.
Perhaps 1t is the constant thought
of this great responsibility that makes
men consult the depths of the souls
for the guidance that they need. 1t
is fact, nevertheless. that whatever
they have done or whatever their
source of wisdom may have been prior
to becoming President of the United
States, their private thoughts during
their terms of office have shown their
regard for the truth as it is impaired
in one or another of the religious
teachings.
Things Of this sort about the Pres
ident seldom reach the people 1t Is
one of the numerous things which can
not become known. The President Is
entitled to some privacy, though he
gets very little despite all of the effort
to provide it. My thought always has
been that the President ought to have
lot of sympathy. Everybody is so
anxious to get glimpse of him or to
talk with him that he is not given the
time to have a good hard-boiled
crouch, however much he may feel
like it.
Il might be just as well, therefore,
that the fond mother who looks upon
sAr first-born as a President-to-be
mfgl1. change her hope. If she seeks
happiness for him, it may come
through the honor that attaches to
the Presidency, but patriotism does
not prescribe that there shall be a
continual rending of heart strings and
a soaring of souls for all who serve
their country.
G, 1882. Western Newspaper Union.