The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1905-10-12
A Pronosed Amendment.


Some newspapers, having nothing
else to do, are reviving the agitation in
favor Of constitutional amendment
fixing April 80 instead Of the 4th of
March as the date for inaugurating the
presidents. While they are at 1t they
ought to couple with that proposition
the following: The presidential term
ought to be increased to six years and
the incumbent rendered forever ineli-
gible. Only two presidents. Washing
ton and Hayes, have failed to spend
most Of their time and energies during
a first term trying to secure second
term, Washington because he did not
want the first and Hayes because he
was never elected. If president were
limited to one term of six years he
would use his utmost endeavors to be
blessing to the people instead of
scheming for further honors for him
self. Representatives should be elect
ed for term of three years. BY max
ing these changes as to terms of presi-
dents and representatives the states
would soon adopt three year terms for
their officials, and we would have an
election every three years only, which
would be an improvement. Presidents
and representatives ought to be elected
on the first Tuesday in September and
congress ought to convene and presi-
dents should be inaugurated on the
first Tuesday In October, which is the
most delightful season of the year in
Washington. By beginning at that
time congress ought to be ready to ad-
journ by May 1, or latest by June 1,
and that would be great relief so far
as the weather is concerned. But, real
ly, there is no good in bothering ones
head about the matter. Things will go
on to the end Of time just as they are
going now, for 1t is almost as impossi-
BILE to amend the constitution In time
Of peace as 1t is to invent perpetual mo-
tion, not that that venerable instru-
ment does not need amending, for it
does, not only in the matters above set
forth, but also in others-the election
Of United States senators by the peo-
pie for one thing and uniform laws as
to divorces, assignments, etc.
| 1t isn't reverence for the constitution
! which prevents its amendment as Wis
inertiae. OF course there are some
| fetch worshipers who object to any
| amendment, no matter how much 1t is
needed. A man does not need to be
| an iconoclast to favor amendment
| Everybody with common sense reveres
| the fathers and their work. The ex-
cellence and durability Of their work
excite constant wonder. But they
were not infallible Their work Is not
perfect. New conditions have arisen
] which render certain changes very de-
sirable, If not absolutely necessary.
| They did not want the constitution
amended in haste, in which they were
correct Consequently they deliberately
and wisely made its amendment slow
and tedious, so that ample time would
be afforded for reflection, suggestion,
discussion, debate. They made it so
slow and so tedious, in fact, that they
came near making it impossible. But
1t can be done. 1t will require time,
patience, energy and systematic agita-
ton. If a sufficient number of citizens
are willing to take the trouble it can
be amended. Here, however, an an
cient proverb Is pplicable-"What is
everybody's business is nobody's busi-
| ness"