The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-22
NATIONAL POLITICS.
One Term for President.

From the New York World.
The national Business league. accord
ing to a Chicago dispatch, is pushing its
movement to amend the federal constitn-
ton so as to lengthen the presidential
term to six years and make the President
ineligible for reelection" The reason
urged bv the league for this change is the
| constant danger of business depression
through frequent national campaigns and
changes in the government.
| This reason is material rather than
moral or political, and yet it has such
weight in the business world that It
might aid greatly in securing a eonstlta-
tional amendment
The real reason for a single and longer
term for the President GO deeper than
this. They grow out of the danger Illus
trated most recently In President Roose-
velt's personally conducted campaign for
nomination. of the use of executive
power and patronage to elect delegates
committed to the Presidents retention
for a second term, and to the graver dan
ger indicated in Judge Parker's speech
of acceptance-the temptation of the
President to consider what the effect of
action taken by him in an administrative
matter of great Importance might nave
upon his political fortunes"
These and other closely related reasons
supply a strong argument for a single
term for the President. But In The
Worlds view the change should be made
in the constitution, rather than on the
initiative of a presidential candidate, ard
should extend the term to six years. alike
to secure the greater stability in the gov
eminent desired by business interests
and to give the slnsle-term President
full and fair opportunity to carry out
with perfect independence his party's
policy as approved by the people
For this reason the World regrets that
Judge Parker deemed it necessary to de-
cline in advance a denomination. Such a
declaration, 1t seems to us, was not nee
essary, and it may cause him and the
party much embarrassment hereafter. II
Judge Parker shall be defeated this year,
through no fault or mistake of his own,
in a campaign which shall exalt his own
character and capacity and shall secure
for him the electoral vote of New York,
ne will be not only the logical but the
inevitable candidate of his party In 1908.
On the other hand, if he shall be elect
ed and shall give to the country such an
administration as it would nave the right
to expect from him, he will be natural
and proper candidate for reelection. The
very fact that he had been thwarted by
a republican senate in carrying forward
the most important reforms demanded
| by the people would not only require a
vote of popular approval of his acts, but
would greatly strengthen him and benefit
his party in the campaign, the rallying
cry Of which would he: give to the Pres
ident an opportunity to put into execution
his ideas of real reform through his re-
election and a change in the senate!'
Judge Parker should feel strong enough,
as we have no doubt he is, to resist any
temptation to misuse his power for per-
| sonal or partisan ends in case he shall
be elected. Until the constitution is
changed the tenure of a President should
be left to the people, who have never yet
reelected an unsafe or unfit executive.