The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-17
GRAVES Is ON A
ONE-TERM PLANK
WIDEST IN HIS PLATFORM.
NO sTATEMENTsAs TO WHETHER
HE WILL RUN.

Possible Candidate for Governor OF
GeOFgiR Opposes the "TwO Term
Precedent'-Gfves the Reasons
why He Thinks Governor Terrell
should Not he Re-eIected-Says
He Is Weighing the Question OF
His own Physical Ability.
Atlanta, Feb. 16.-Hon. John Temple
Graves gave out an interview to-day
in connection with the matter of max
ing the race for Governor. Shortly
afterward at noon, Mr.. Graves left
the city for Washington, D. c., where
it is supposed he has gone in connec-
ton with the Hearst presidential
boom.
Mr. Graves does not say he is going
to run, but states the issues on which
he would run if he entered the race,
principally opposition to a second
term. The interview, as given out to
the newspaper men, is as follows:
"In an interview given out to-day
Mr.. Graves declared that if he entered
the race for Governor he would adj
dress himself at once to the two
term precedent" which seems to be
the chief obstacle to his candidacy.
Mr.. Graves declared that he would dis
cuss the question under a series of
propositions.
The last of these is sensational, and
is sure to provoke discussion. Il
would say" said Mr.. Graves,
made not by the people, but by the
politicians.
Second, That the precedent is in no
essential element democratic.
Third. That North Carolina and
Virginia and Florida, contiguous
states, equally as democratic as Geor-
gia, have no such custom, and that
the trend of democratic ideas of gov
eminent in the present day is clearly
toward a single term of public service;
if that term is to be heightened,
should not ask 1t in my own.
Fourth. That the precedent is
custom more honored in the breach
than in the. observance; that double
terms of service tempt and permit an
incumbent to create an administrative
machine to perpetuate himself in Of
flee and to destroy the disinterested-
ness and the purity of the appointive
power; that single terms permit an
official to give his disinterested serv-
ice and judgment to the state, and to
make his appointments without regard
to their influence upon the question of
his reelection to office; that the rule
which / would apply to the incumbent
l should unhesitatingly abide myself
and pledge my candidacy to a, single
term of service.
Fifth. That it is a serious ques-
ton whether the incumbent is consti-
tutionalIy eligible for reelection for a
second term; (a) that the constitution
specifically and definitely prescribes,
Article V, Section II, that no man shall
hold the executive offices for longer
period than four years; (b) that under
the recent legislative change the pres
ent incumbent has eight months added
to- his present term, which makes his
single term nearly three years; !. (c)
that it is being freely stated that If
reelected the present incumbent
would have, another eight months
added to his second term, making in
all sixteen months extension of time.
Sixth. That this would give the
present incumbent, il reelected, a term
six years of consecutive service.
Seventh That this is a longer term of
service than was given to Alexander
stephens or Joseph E. Brown or John
B. Gordon, or A. H. Colquitt. or the
giant Governors of other days-longer
than that enjoyed by the most illus
trious sons of the commonwealth.
Eighth. That II would be a longer
term of service than the constitution
specifically provides, and that it is a
serious question whether the present
incumbent would be eligible to re-elec-
ton under that instrument, and
Ninth. That the knowledge of these
disqualifying conditions might have
been in the mind of the present incum-
bent when he opposed the legislative
change which extended his term.
His other Views.
Beyond this question:" said Mr..
Graves, II have positive views upon the
Incorporation of foreign corporations
under the laws of the state, the hui
name appeal of the child labor bill, the
reform of the convict lease system, the
freedom of politics from machine rule,
and the separation of the school book
question from the influence of corpora
lions.
Il am simply weighing at this time
the question of my physical capacity to
serve the people in the advocacy of
these great issues which concern them"
---S--er-s----
DepositOrs to Be Paid.