Evening star., 1938-03-23

A. on the ground ##$# &iSsg.S 81
that this partic- I
ular law is not s#$Ss b. i .
being executed.
But there Is noth- ''T''>
ing in the Con- " I-"'e"'s'
stitution which makes the President
the final judge of whether the laws
are being faithfully executed" The
whole judicial system was established
to settle such disputes.
But since Mr.. Roosevelt has raised
the question. it is pertinent to note
that the President Of the United
States does have certain direct re-
sponsibilities of initiating action for
the faithful execution of the laws,
Furthermore. President who does not
see that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted may himself be impeached and
subject to trial.
A Case in Point.
For this reason. it would seem that
Mr.. Roosevelt would be especially care
full about calling attention now to the
clause from the Constitution about
the faithful execution of laws on the
statute books. There is, for example.
one conspicuous case of dereliction Of
duty which may be charged against
Mr.. Roosevelt himself and which, for
aome mysterious reason. has never
yielded any information from the
White House to enlighten the public
as to said dereliction.
Here is quotation from q law
known as the Federal Corrupt Prac-
tices Act:
- 1T is unlawful for any corpo-
ration whatever to make q contribu-
ton in connection with any election
at which presidential and vice presi-
DENTAL electors or . Senator or Rep
fesentative in Congress are to be
voted for. or for any candidate, po-
htical committee. or other person to
accept or receive any contribution
prohibited. by this section"
Under another provision of the law,
.'contribution" is defined as "a gift,
subscription, loan. advance, or deposit
Of money, or anything of value"
!. Considered as Contributions.
Now the record is that the Demo-
cratic National Committee sold auto
graphed copies of their campaign book
70 corporations and accepted such con-
tributions amounting to hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars. The Democratic
Committee considered these sales to be
contributions, because the book sales
were formally listed with the clerk Of
the House Of Representatives under
the heading of receipts, as provided
for by law concerning contributions.
When the matter was called to Mr..
Roosevelt's attention last year. his sec
retary announced that the President
did not know the purpose for which
his signature was to be used; that he
signed 4 lot of blank pages. and that
these pages were later bound with the
campaign books and offered for sale.
Even accepting that explanation on
Its face value. the record also shows
that subsequent to this explanation
sales Of the books were made and Mr..
Roosevelt did nothing to stop them.
Did the President overlook the
faithful execution" Of the Federal
Corrupt Practices Act? Did he him.
self not accept, for his own cAndi-
daey, and lin connection with" his
own election, contributions from cor
portions In violation OF the Federal
kMf -.
This matter constitutes . grave re-
hection on the integrity Of the Roose-
ve1t administration and ought to have
been cleared up long ago; yet for some
strange reason there have been no
prosecutions and not even any indict-
ments to determine whether the law
has been violated. The penalty for
every violation is, upon conviction. a
f1ne Of $1,000 or imprisonment for
not more than one year, or both.
Nom -Committal Reply Given.
A resolution Of inquiry on the sub
3eet was addressed by one of the
leaders of the House Of Representatives
10 the Department of Justice, but
han-committal answer was returned.
Clearly, under the Constitution of the
United States, it Is intended that the
President shall see that all laws are
enforced and not merely those which
he happens to believe shall be enforced.
The obligation is all-inclusive and 1t
would be most unfortunate If Mr..
Roosevelt's record as President of
the United States were to remain
mdefnitely besmirched by q violated
statute through which benefits were
received fer his own political advance
ment. III,
Much Of the deficit of the Demo-
cratic National Committee of 1885
WAS wiped out by the sale of the
campaign books containing Mr.. Roose-
velt's autograph. and yet no corpora
tons or officers thereof have been
Nailed before any court to answer for
their violation of the statute.
The facts are not in dispute. The
law Is plain. The motive for refusal
10 enforce the law is also plain. No
political party ever accuses itself or
pats its own leaders in Jail. But the
trainers Of the Constitution put in
That document m impeachment clause
for that especial purpose. and some
day, II public feeling should rise
Against the present administration as