Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-03-23
EXPANSION AND DURATION o.
PRESIDENCY.


q View. regardless u political Il
facts O. public interests. another
presidential candidacy On Mr.. Rooss
seits part would be extremely In
tsFesting % many people. unoon-
earned. perhaps. in his success OF
failure. they would he absorbed IN
the question u the outcome. For the
result of the election would deter.
mine whether the arguments against
third terms have no loager any force
II this country when put 70 the test
q checking the career u al excep-
tionally popular executive. II 10
probable that everyone. whatever his
political views. would like 10 know
Just how far snch q man as Mr..
Roosevelt could 70 In seeking ~
election, II both he and his party
were disposed 10 test the electorate
70 the limit How May terms for q
popular president would the Amert.
can people nov tolerate. before con.
Guiding that was time 20 stop?
n nothing were involved save an
experiment that would add 20 our
fund u Information the objections 20
another candidacy for Mr.. Roosevelt,
even on his own part, might disap.
pear entirely. His defeat would Ger
aainly indicate that the tradition hos
tile TO third terms remained powerful:
his success would shatter that tradi.
ton beyond hope Of It's revival, and
doubtless leave the way clear for
fourth or even fifth terms In the flu
tire. should conditions In America
ever prove favorable TO the rise oil
public men capable Of retaInisg tho
popular strength for 40 long n per
Tod. A demonstration % this sort
absolutely unique In our national an
mails. would DO universally regarded
N important II not epochal In Its sig
~nIficance. for. whatever persona
opinions may he as to the reasona
bleness OF the th!rd-term tradition q
It's strength among the people at tn
present time. actual events that In
terpret the national consciousness
are invariably impressive and d
ways serve as the landmarks of his
tory.
II the president next year could b.
reelected. the event would surly b.
epochai. II Is perfectly clear that |
would far transcend In Significance
the same event had 1t come In con
nection with Washington, jackson o
Grant. This IN because the office o
chief magistrate. as President Wood
row Wilson has pointed ont Ia hi
Columbia university lectures, has Il
late years grown moro and NOR
Overshadowing In the general schem'
Of government, The presidency to
day bulks larger by far In power an
prestige than It did tn the time o
Washington, or Jackson or Grant
Is a greatly emphasized and expan
ded office. and to a degree that Il
Independent OF the personality of tn,
man who holds 1t.
Prhaps the main reason for THU
development has been the increased
International Importance of the Unit
d States and the constantly enlarg
ing sphere OF It's international aetiy
tiles. for In foreign affairs and In hi
control Of the army and navy al
American president enjoys his mos
unrestrained field OF action. Yet. a
the same time. demands for a conc+n
trated national leadership, which ha
Increased enJ'I hbns.y Wl'h -cC"r TN
tralizing tendencies OF our economic
evolution and the shrinking import
ance OF the separate states Of tn
Union, has fixed upon the presiden
tial office as the most efficient singl'
exponent Of the popular will. As
Mr.. Wilson says; The tendencies OF
days OF stress and change do more
and more thrust upon him the role
Of originator Of policies. His cabinet
becomes more and more dependent
upon him. Upon his single office
more and more center the vital
forces OF opinion ana Of political I'M.
tiatiye. The whole organization has
grown, and In nothing nor than In
the development OF the presidency"
II there was any virtue whatever
I'm the third-term tradition In the DAYS
OF Jackson or of Grant, II there was
reason of the slightest degree in the
position which Washington assumed
then the arguments against third