The Virginia enterprise., 1909-08-06

effect of the traditional habit of thonght the peope
ment De expected to look with favor long
OF PUBIC ONCE the governor of state is elected
yearly The mayor of the city of Boston also holds
once only 1or twelvemonth. Massachusetts, and
ton are no weakngs commercially There has BEEN
however, tendency in the states of to length
en- the terms of the chief executives That which seems
wise to-day would have been deemed folly half a cen.
tury ago. The people have found that they can trust
themselves to keep away from the pit of apathy for
three or four years and that all
of dangerous ambitions.
The recurring talk of a Of six years for the
president and the senators for life terms is nrob
ably but talk for talks Anything that has politics
for basis is of interest to the live and in the
and each can back the given with reasons that
for which the advancer couldn't get vote-not even
his
American politics deal largely in futures. The NAM
Ing of presidents is done thousands Of times
before the conventions days that figures cannot keep the
count The question of the multitude that witnesses the
oath taking of president the platform of the
capitol is: "Who will take the four years from
to-day?" There thousands individual mem.
bers of the multitude who quick to give answer
and each can back the given with reasons that
he believes all convincing 1t is great game and
makes for safety
There has been time since Washington was
naugurated in the city of New the concerns
of legislation, matter how vital country have
been strong enough to keep politics matter of
the presidential succession out of the peoples minds
The American thrives poitics-proof enough per.
haps, that 1t Is healthy food.
There has been the ever-ready sneer at American
methods Of naming president. Men who think none
government
iteration they have to believe their own words
that the politicians and the Office holders (aso poll
icians) do the presidentnaming for people, It is
statement that bears test. When Mr. Roosevelt
began the outlining of his policies there was hardly
politician in the land who approved The members of
congress who were friendly to the presidents course
could be counted with knowledge counting Meas
went through that the congressman who
voted aye loathed in their souls.
What the reason of it all? The people them.
selves voting using unwilling but finally politically
wise agents to do the voting for them. The man who
wants to succeed himself in Office has an eye and ear
for his constituents If he wants to commit political
suicide he becomes temporarily blind and deaf The
force OF public opinion never sharply shown
than in the United States senate winter before last
when senator after senator voted for measures that
three years ago they would openly to be
1niquitous, because they might disturb business inter
ests business interests being interests of
tions which some people say little reap plente-
ousy.
las for the house of representatives, the men who
stood against the presidential policies still clinging to
tho belief that the majority Of the people was not in
sympathy with the administration out their mis-.
take at the convention later at the polls.
All this a part and parcel of the plan of presi-
dentnamng by the people, 1t is certain as mundane
things be certain that the politicians of either
party their allies succeed in thwarting the will of
tho voters at national convention there always the