Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-10-25
THE ONE-TERM RULE.
Ex-ooV. STEWART DISCUSSES THE EVIL
RESULTS OF THE RULE AND ADVISES
A CHANGE.
MIDDLEBURY. oct. lG. 1898

Montpelier. in short address which | |
had the honor to deliver before what was |
termed the "Joint Assembly," | called
attention, quite briefly, to some object /
ions to what is known as the "one-term
rule" which has so generally prevailed
in this State since the adoption of the
biennial system. The views there enun- |
clated received editorial approved in
subsequent issue of your paper. The
principle of rotation in office under our
system is wholesome, and up to 1870 had
the sanction of unbroken practice from
the beginning. Save in rare and eXcep
| tional instances, where peculiar and en-
inent service and especial fitness there
for are required, the door of reasonable
rotation should be open to any worthy
aspirant to public service.
Conceding so much to the wise exer-
else of the doctrine of "rotation," it may
be said that the objections to the adop-
ton of an arbitrary rule limiting the
length of service to a single term are so
obvious that their statement is clear con-
demnatIon of the rule.
That public Office is public trust is
a truism, oft repeated and universally
admitted. however much disregarded. 1t
is true because every public office of
every degree is created for the public
benefit
The great body of the people are
neither oflice-hJlders nor office-seekers.
Their only interest, therefore, in the
choice of public servants lies in such
selection as shall secure the best attain
able government.
The rule which at the end of "A single
term of faithful service declares that be-
cause of such service the candidate shall
be ineligiblei to reelection makes eX-
perience a disqualification for public SER
vice and degrades the office by practical
denial that it is a public trust. and Il
practical affirmation that it is Il private
"snap."
The rule degradeS every office to which
it is applied, from the governor down. 1t
belittes the politics of the State, using
that term in its larger sense as related to
our governmental affairs.
1t brings into the legislative business
of the State "A biennial stream of mex
perience. and so makes constantly recur-
ring breach of that continuity which is
so essential to the perfectug of new
systems or the revision of old ones. when
required by change of conditions in the
r body polite.
The average quality. moral and INTEL
ectual, of our legislative membership is
not one whit inferior to that of former
times under the old system; but it must
be conceded that the bright men of to-day
are at disadvantage. and. handicapped by
arbitrary limitation of service, are not
given time to develop their extent of
ability, are retired at the precise moment
when the public service needs their adj
vancement, and are stamped ineligible.
Practical statemanship in legislation
does not come by nature nor by iuspira-
ton. The term implies the power to dis
Germ the public needs, coupled with the
ability wisely to formulate laws pertinent
. to such needs. Wise leadership is as
, essential to the best results in legislation
o as to success in military opt ration>.
- such leadership comes from the school
of experience.
q Horace Greeley said of specie pay
p ments: The IWay to resume is to re-
F sumo" The way to reform is to reform
If the evil have described eXists-anC
Il it is undeniable--let the people take the
matter in hand. What the people say
.r "goes."
J. venture to suggest that this mucl
needed reform should begin where thu
4 evil began-at the top. So long as ",
90 deny reelection to the governor, thu
:, same arbitrary rule, with here and there
~ an exception, will prevail in the choice
- of senators and representatives.
~ am, therefore, in consistency with my
~ convictions rs expressed. and withou
personal prejudice for or against any
va candidate present or prospective, in favo
10 of the denomination of our present COVER
nor, "A veteran soldier. true Vermonte
and capable and faithful executive
If but not for his sake, although he de
nj serves il, uut rs "A necessary step in cor
A., rection ol an admitted evil, and fresl
If recognition by the people of the VITA
principle that ''publc office is Il publ
al trust" created for the public benefit.
GOV. Greenhalge has recently receive
II his third nomination in Massachusetts
b. Vermont is the only State in the Uno
ne which denies, on principle, renOmina
ton to an executive or legislator of ap
proved worth. She has persisted in thi
singular course during the past % years
IN viii there be better time than IN
nd present to inaugurate a change, begir
to ning at the head? Ours is people
government Let the people answer
j. w. STEWART.
nd Mabon and Patti.
as 4 ooOd story is told of MabOn At