The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-06
On a Timely TOPIC

Professor MoAdaster, who has written
much that is instructive and interest
ing in relation to American history, is
the author of an entertaining article on
THE Third-Term Tradition" in the No
vember number of the Forum.
BY way of preface the article in ques-
tion reobtes what was discussed by the
men who made the constitution when
they were reaching conclusions as to
the manner of choosing a president
how some members of the convention
were for leaving the choice to the gov
ernors of the states; how some of them
wanted congress- to elect the president;
how others wanted the executive de-
partment to be lodged in three men,
representative respectively of the east
ern states. the middle states, and the
South: how others thought 1t would be
a good scheme to select a president by
lot.
The point not developed by Professor
McAfAster. but which nevertheless is
true. is that the men who framed the
constitution of the United States were
afraid of the people. But for that, they
certainly would have provided for the
election OF a president by direct vote.
AS IL is. we have the ridiculous machin-
cry known as the electoral college,
with the result that, once and again,
the president of the United States has
not been the peoples choice for the
reason that, under the odd operation
has the minority in the popular vote
may be the choice of the electoral col
lege.
Coming 20 third|.erm talk. Professor
McAfaster shows that the members of
the constitutional convention were not
acknowledgements. Every phase of
that question, from the expediency Of
short term with reelection. to a long
term without reelection. seems to have
been carefully considered. At the out
Sc: the general opinion of the delegates
was that congress should elect the
president: that his term OF office
should be three years: and that he
should be reeligdble. as the doctrine of
rotation would tend. It was said. TO
throw out of Office the men best fitted
TO execute its duties. On the other
hand. many OF the members were very
earnest for term OF seven years and
no reelection. The executive, said they,
is 20 be chosen by the legislature. and
viii be absolutely dependent on IL. as
its creature and the executive Of its
viii and OF the laws IL passes. A long
term with no succession to Office will
prevent a false complaisance on the
part of the legislature toward an unfit
man. and the temptation on the part of
a bad executive to intrigue with
rhe legislature for reappoIntment.
One member begged hard for BIZ
ennial election with inehgibility af-
ter nine years; but the states.
by a vote of FIVE to four. decid-
ed that the presidents term should be
seven years. and by a vote OF seven 20
two made him ineligible TO reelection. |
Later on in the debate the members |
changed their minds. struck out this |
and. by a vote Of six states |
to four. declared him to DE eligible 70 |
reelection. Ten day later. however.
on the motion OF Mason Of Virginia. |
this decision was set aside. and the |
resolution passed that the executive |
be appointed for seven years. and be
ineligible a second time"
That didn't settle a.: In the end. the /
constitutional convention fixed UP the |