Arizona republican., 1904-08-24
PHOENIx, ARIz., AUGUST 24. 1904.
The Six Year Term.

The Natioral Business League or Chicago some time ago set on foot a movement to secure an amendment to the constitution of the United States which would lengthen the presidential term to six years and make the chief executive ineligible for reelection. The league sent out to prominent men of all parties throughout the United States a letter setting forth the nature of the movement and containing the following four principal reasons:
 Il Presidential campaigns are too frequent; are enormously expensive to business interests and keep the coun- try in a state of turmoil and uncertain ty most of the time, to the great dis advantage of both labor and capital.
 70. Presidential years show increase of business failures, decrease of ex- ports, bank clearings. stock sales and commercial transactions generally.
 "3. Presidential campaigns indef nitely prevent the beginning and check the growth of industrial enterprises.
 A. The president, during his first term, naturally being anxious to sue ceed himself. is kept busy considering the demands of politicians and plan ming for a second term; meanwhile. important legislation for the general good waits"
 The Chicago Post prints a page of la by the league and in all of them the object of the movement is endorsed. It may be said that the endorsers are for the most part business men, jurists, college professors, etc. There is not a professional politician of prominence tn the list. Among those who favor the movement is cur own George H. Maxwell, who says:
 'I am convinced that the movement inaugurated by the National Business League, to amend the constitution of the United States so as to lengthen the presidential term to six years and make the chief executive ineligible to re-election, is one which is of far
 
 interests of the United States, and that its success would very largely benefit them for all the reasons so tersely and strongly stated in the propositions sub- mitted by the league. l believe this movement is one which only requires an organization, such as the league. and it's steady support, to succeed. My own idea is that what you advocate would be favored by a great majority of the people and the press of the Unit ed States. but it will not be done un- less through some organization like the league movement is inaugurated for its accomplishment by the business in- terests of the country. It will never come through any political action-at least not until the business interests of the country force action by the po- litical parties. Men who are active in political affairs look askance at any suggestion whic lessens the importance or frequency of political campaigns.
 Personally believe that the injuries 10 the business of the country from our present system of presidential cleo tions. great though these injuries may be, are of really less importance than the lowering of the whole tone of ad- ministration of the presidential office resulting from schemes for reelection, and the necessity felt by any president who seeks reelection to propitiate the worst political influences in order to avoid their opposition or secure their support in the campaign for reelection. The American people should speedily see to 1t that the chief executive of the greatest nation on the face of the earth is relieved of all annoyances from parasites who make private gain paramount to the general welfare"
 Other endorsers are Marshall Field and Judge Tuley of Chicago, various trades bodies such as the Portland Ore, chamber of commerce. and the Little Rock. Ark. board of trade We also observe that the Phoenix and Maricopa county Board of Trade lends its support.
 The Post commenting upon the movement says: "The practical poli- tician may oppose the movement be- cause he is the only one to be hurt by its success. But let 1t be once under stood that the people and the business interests desire the amendment, that the welfare Of the nation demands it. there will be few states in the union that will hesitate to give congress the authority to act finally. once the ques- ton Is submitted to it."