The Elbert County tribune., 1909-08-05

might follow change has out
weighed the fear of possible but ii
temfbrary commercial instability.
In Massachusetts where, because of the supposed
effect of the traditional habit of thought people
might be expected to look with favor a long tenure
OF pubic once the governor of the state is elected
yearly. The mayor of the city Boston holds
Office only for twelvemonth Massachusetts
ton are no weddings commercially. There has been.
however tendency in the states of the length
the terms of the chief executives. That
wise to-day would have been deemed folly a
tury The people have found that they trust
themselves to keep away from the pit of apathy for
three four and that all possessed
of dangerous ambitions.
The recurring talk of a term of six years for the
ably talk talks Anything politics
a basis is of interest live
each back the given with
for which the advancer couldn't get a vote-not
his
American politics deal largely in futures The man,
ing of presidents is done thousands of times
the convention days that figures the
The question of the multitude that witnesses the
taking of president the platform east of the
capitol is Who Will take the oath four years from
today" There thousands of individual mem
of the multitude who will be quick to give answer
and each back the given name with reasons that
he believes all convincing 1t is great game and
makes for safety.
There never has been time since Washington was
naugurated city of New York that the concerns
Of legislation, matter how vital to the country have
been enough to keep politics and the matter of
presidential succession out of the peoples minds
The American thrives on poltcs-proof enough, per-
haps that it is healthy food
There has been the everready sneer at American
methods of naming a president. Men who think
well of popular government have said, until by
iteration they have to believe their words,
that politicians the office holders (also poll
tcians the presidentnaming for the people 1t is
a statement that bears test When Mr.. Roosevelt
began the outlining of his policies there hardly
politician in the land who approved The members of
congress who friendly to the presidents
could be counted with knowledge of counting Meas
ures went through that the congressman who
voted aye loathed in their souls.
What of it all? The people them
selves voting, using unwilling but finally politically
wise agents to the voting for them. The who
wants to succeed himself in Office has eye
for his constituents If he wants to commit political
suicide becomes temporarily blind and deaf. The
force of public opinion never more sharply shown
than in the United States senate winter before last
when senator after senator voted for that
three they would openly have declared to be
iniquitous they might disturb business inter
ests business being the interests of
tions which people little and reap plente
ously
AS for the house of representatives. the men who
stood against presidential policies still clinging to
the belief the majority of the people not In
sympathy with the administration. found out their mis-
take at the convention later at the polls.
All this part and parcel of the plan of presi
dentnaming by the people. 1t is certain mundane
things can that If the politicians of either
party allies succeed in thwarting the will Of
the voters national convention there L always the