The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-22
PARTY Ross OR PRESIDENT OF THE
PEOPLE?

I
PEOPLE?
Returning to discussion of our American
form Of government as it existed until five
o. IN wears ago, we notice that a contem-
royary newspaper undertakes to present
the president Of the United States as the
chief executive and as the head or leader
ot political party. This newspaper does
rot accept that view and does not believe
it Is according to the views of the greatest
and best men who have held the office of
president of this republic.
: candidate for president may be re-
g-rded for the time as the leader or head
or n political party. If the candidate is
elected he becomes the president, not of
uoHGcal party, but of all the people of the
United States. That is something vastly
different 10 being the head Of political
party.
Roosevelt is not the president OF the
Democratic party alone of the new deal
party alone, or of any other party. He is,
or ought to be, the president of all the
political parties existing in this country.
As a matter of law and of rectitude, he is
not the president of any one class of citi-
zeus. but is the president of all classes of
citizens.
Now. AZ a matter of fact. one of the
strongest indictments this newspaper
brings against Roosevelt is that he has
been a class president. He has ignored the
party To which he proclaimed allegiance
rs 4 candidate for president; threw two
If its national platforms into the ash can
ard forgot promptly all his prediction
promises; surrounded himself with men in
arpQntivC positions who are known not to
be Democrats: and has loudly proclaimed
his independence in voting. His position
in these matters is not one that can be
approved in its entirety. we believe, by a
.saiority of the coumtry'S citizens; but MIR.
Roosevelt rs a class president has made
his longest and most dangerous departure
from American principles and policies.
Hi, administration has been the most
marked If any in the history of the nation
hy class division, class hatred and efforts
go divide the population of the country
along class lines and to array class against
class. Roosevelt has proved conClusively
by MS actions. regardless of his words, that
he mas cndcavored to be the president Of
certain classes and that he was out to ar
ray the mighty power Of the central gov
eminent against certain other classes, IN
an effort to crush and destroy them.
Of course, nothing could be more I'M
reasonable, unfair, indefenSibe under our
svstem of government, or could more def
ntely and roundly merit the severest con-
domination of patriotic Americans than this
course Of the president.
This newspaper takes the position that
Roosevelt as president is not the active
political head of a party. No man can
track tie federal constitution and the laws
and keen the spirit and letter of the moral
law, by attempting to be the president of
political party or of one or more classes
sof citizens. This is true no matter how
great his majority may have been In an
election and regardless of any alleged
mandate he may hold from that ma
'iority. The principle involved here is a
basic principle of right in free country
The president of the United States is the
president Of minOritieS as we'll as MAORI
ties of voters; and he has constitutional
and moral obligation to treat minorities
with consideration, to use his power to see
that their rights are respected, that they
are protected in all their rights as citizens
He has no right to seek to Cypress or de-