The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-11-13
The One Term Rule--.Letter from Hon.
John W, Stewart.

Editor of Wdtchmdn:-In your issues OF
the 23d and Both of October / find editorial
comment on my letter recently published
in the Free Press. Your readers could have
better judged of the relevancy of your criti-
cism had you published the letter.
L do not understand that you controvert
my point that the one-term rule, as applied
to the legislative department, Is injurious
to the public interest On the contrary, you
admit that 1t conduces to "crude and hasty
legislation" You might, without exaggera.
ton, have put the case in single phrase,
VIZ: The one term rule practically declares
experience to be disqualification for public
service. And this is but an afiirmation that
public Office is not public trust created
solely for the public benefit, but rather a
private snap, a personal decoration to be
passed along to successive aspirants as often
az opportunity by election ensues Minus
the Doodle, this is the rule OF Tammany.
Tammany esteems office for its material
advant Age-first, to the boss; secondly to
the incumbent. II is question of division.
The one-term rule regards only the decora-
tive quality OF office. Both make the public
interest secondary.
Now for the remedy. My suggestion to
begin at the top" and renominate the pres
ent executive is merely corollary of my ar
gument. / repeat my conviction that a
party rule which arbitrarily limits the ex-
ecutive to single term will surely be ap.
piled to legislative membership, with few
exceptions. The evil began at the top. The
men of that tins know how it originated.
The active ring who undertook the nomina.
ton of Mr.. Billings in 1872, traversed the
state from Massachusetts to the Canada
line prOmulgating the one-term rule solely
as applicable to the executive. Their only
purpose related to that office. 1t was then
foreseen and objected by thoughtful men
that the legislative department would in
evitably fall under the rule which should
govern the choice of the executive Such
was the immediate result and the practice
thus inaugurated has prevailed ever since.
My proposition to renominate the present
executive is as impersonal as my argument.
Governor Woodbury. happens to be the
present incumbent. 1t is for that reason
that | would renominate him, and because
l believe such denomination would be a
proper condemnation of a perm, ions princi-
pie of political action.
Your facetious reference to denomination,
sertdtSnl, of the " one-term men of the
past is wholly aside from the issue, which
concers only the present and the future
My contention is not for a hard and fast
rule for denomination in all cases, but
against an arbitrary rule which restricts
service to single term.
The change from annual to biennial cleo
lions was wise. The adoption of biennial
sessions was mistake. Your sug yestion
that the evil of which / complain may be
remedied by amendment of the constitution
providing for return to annual sessions
seems to me wholly impracticable. The
people are not likely to consent to such
change At least such remedy is remote.
Meantime the people hold in their hands a
remedy ever present, through the ballot, of
which they are absolute masters. / am
aware that methods and conditions fixed
by custom which has prevailed quarter
OF century are not easily or readily
changed. Every Vermont voter under the
age of forty five, and probably nearly all
the gentlemen who conduct the press of the
state, have grown up under these condi.
tions. | am therefore not expectant of any
immediate revolution of public opinion or
general change of practice. My views are
deliberate conclusions which result from
somewhat careful observation and reflection
after somewhat varied and extended ex-
perience in public life.
The press OF the state may do much or
little in correction of an admitted abuse.
How generally 1t may be enlisted to main
tain existing methods l do not know. 1t
can hardly be denied, however, that the
question thus raised is worthy OF candid and
serious discussion and consideration. / may
be permitted to add that, in calling public
attention to it, my only motive has been to
contribute my personal influence to the
abrogation of rule of political action
peculiar to Vermont alone, discreditable to
the intelligence of her people and degrading
to every office, high and low, to which it is
applied, because it is an open and fragrant
denial Of a fundamental principle in free
government by and for the people, viz, that
public Office is public trust.
j. W. STEWART.