Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-14
SOME LEADING ORGANIZATIONS,
The Third Term Question and What the Fair
Sex Think Of It.
USUAL EFFECT OF PRAYER MEETINGS
WRITTEN FOR THE pIsPArcH.I

credit to himself and in a manner to best
serve the interests of the country, should
not be eligible to third term is hard to see,
and can only be explained that though "a
fear of change perplexes monarchs," change
for the people. has great charms. Or else
the idea is held as principle that eight years
upon throne is honor enough for any man.
A poor, weak, miserable King serves as
ruler for life by virtue of his blood, but
no man in this country is permitted to as
sumo the powers of President for more than
eight years by either blood or brains. This
is good rule when Presidents, as does
occur, are merely puppets set up by poll
ticians for their own purposes, or when
they are only the creatures Of accident or
compromise, as has happened.
Where We Are Inconsistent.
Why this Nndefned law of change should
be enforced as to some officers of the Gov
ernment and not to others is somewhat of q
mystery. The judges of the Supreme
Court are rarely selected for eminent
ability, but rather by favoritlsm, partisan,
or political influence. They are, to be
sure, presumed to be learned in the law
and to be above reproach as to character,
but not necessarily to be men possessed of
the greatest brains and powers Of judgment.
They are appointed by the President and
serve during good behavior, which means
mostly for life.
The Supreme Court is held in vast re-
spect, but after all some Of its members have
in no way distinguished themselves beyond
the ordinary lawyer. They are lucky in
hoving attained to life positions, high hon
ors and fat salaries. A softer sit than that
of T,,1o II ho hor vi toG G,,l
in the way of an Office. No thorns as to re-
moval or the chances of election in his pill
low if he behaves himself No uncertain
ties, no tidal waves of change upset his soul
or roll across his peaceful breast. He can
sit around in silken gown with the satisfac-
tion Of security in place and power. No
rushing or hustling in canvassing for votes
or mending of fences print wrinkles upon
his brow or give care to his heart.
How Men Do in Business.
As concerns their own special business,
men believe in continuity Of Office and not
rotation. A faithful, capable man
is held on to with tenacity. On
the presumption that it is better to
bear the ills we have than fly to others
that we know not of cold and tried ser
wants are preferred. In all companies,
corporations and associations for making
money trusted men Of years and experience
are the mainstay and the rock of repose for
their employers. To men versed in the
best methods of conducting business, it
would seem the height of idiocy to retire
their trained and efficient assistants at the
end of a four years term and take on new
and green hands. The New York Central
would not dream of retiring Chauncey
Depew as President to give some other man
IN cho h 10 t.
never occur to the Pennsylvania Railroad to
continually change their officers on the
chance of getting better ones. Having men
who come up to the requirements of the
position, they are retained in Office regard
less of any rules Of rotation. By raise in
wages, by increase of privileges and other
devices of appreciation, valuable assistants
and treasured officials are retained in both
business and domestic life.
Only in politics is rotation in Office
held as principle. No matter how good
man the Mayor of this city may be, no mat
ter how we'll fitted he may show himself for
the place, nor how well pleased the people
may be with his administration, he steps
down and out at the end of his term, and
makes way for q new and untried man. A
President, however popular, may get Sec
ond term, but not a third
Washington Couldn't Get Three Terms.
Even the beloved Washington was SUBJ
jected to the most scurrilous abuse and de-
traction to prevent any prospect of his cleo
tion for third term. Not that he desired
it, for he keenly felt the truth of Ben JON
sons saying: ellis cares must still be
double to his joys, in any dignity" JEFF
ferson, one of the greatest of Americans in
Judgment and intellect, was accorded but
fho Aol of fbo IL
was retired at the end of eight years, though
he may be said to have been smart enough
to have secured third term through Van
Buren. Lincoln, so loved and revered, had
he lived, would doubtless have been cleft
by his party at the close of his second term.
Even Grant, the great General and be- /
loved President failed of the third term, SO
ardently desired and SO bitterly opposed.
The mighty power of the famous 306 could
not beat down the prejudice against third
term. The luck of obscure men, not wanted
by the people, in attaining the high honor
of the Presidency is famous-and, we may
add, infamous. To rise to the princely
powers of the White House chair does not
require that the candidate should be man
of towering intellect or the possessor of
noblest executive powers, but rather that
he should be man manageable by the poll
ticians or an embodiment of a compromise
What Women Think of It.
All of the arguments pro and con on this
subject of rotation in Office seemed to be on
the ends of the tongues of the women COM
posing the Council Of the Confederation of
Woman's Clubs. A limited term of office
was stoutly and ably advocated by several
of the sisters with reference to the official
organization of the Confederation. But
their views met with strong opposition.
The diversity of opinion made the discussion
exceedingly entertaining, but no conclusion
was reached. Having no pecuniary per
quisite attached, with no official gifts to be-
stow, with much Of work and responsibility,
the position of President of a wOman's club
is not run after" as is the Presidency of
the Republic. But, as a show of trust and
mark of appreciation, it is highly valued,
and that it is not unworthily bestowed was
made very plain at the recent council,
which represented the woman's clubs
throughout the country.
Julia Ward Howe, who has been Presi-
dent of the New England Woman's' Club,
since it wes organized a number of years
ago, will never be allowed to retire from
the position Judging from the enthusiasm of
the club women of Boston in her favor, and
the prestige of her name. Although over
the three score years and ten limit, she
seems to be yet in the prime of her intel
lectual powers. With her wealth of
knowledge, her wisdom in management and
wearing the triple crown of poet, scholar
and reformer," she maintains her hold
upon the hearts and votes Of her fellow
members as firmly as does Gladstone upon
the Liberal party of England