The intimate papers of Colonel House arranged as a narrative by Charles Seymour.

156 INTIMATE PAPERS OF COLONEL HOUSE

Whatever the literary merits of 'Philip Dru,' it gives us an
insight into the main political and social principles that
actuated House in his companionship with President Wilson.
Through it runs the note of social democracy reminiscent of
Louis Blanc and the revolutionaries of 1848: 'This book is
dedicated to the unhappy many who have lived and died
lacking opportunity....' 'The time is now measurably
near when it will be just as reprehensible for the mentally
strong to hold in subjection the mentally weak, and to force
them to bear the grievous burdens which a misconceived
civilization has imposed upon them.' Government, accordingly, must be inspired by the spirit of charity rather than
the spirit of ruthless efficiency. Especially must privileged
interests be excluded from governmental influence, for by
the nature of things their point of view is selfish.
Through the book also runs the idea that in the United
States, government is unresponsive to popular desires - a
'negative' government, House calls it - for it is at more pains
to do nothing with safety than to attempt desirable reforms
which might disturb vested interests and alienate the voters.
'We have been living under a Government of negation.'
The theory of checks and balances has developed so as to
reenforce this negative character of government; closer cooperation between the President and Congress, perhaps in
the direction of parliamentary methods, is necessary if the
tendency of American government is to be made active and
positive.
The specific measures enacted by Philip Dru as Administrator of the nation, indicated the reforms desired by House.
The Administrator appointed a 'board composed of
economists and others well versed in matters relating to the
tariff and internal revenue, who... were instructed to work
out a tariff law which would contemplate the abolition of the
theory of protection as a governmental policy.'