New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-27
Members of House Planning to
Extend His Term as Presi-
dent and Prohibiting
His Reelection.
WILL NEED QUICK ACTION
Representatives Say Constitu-
tional Amendment Can Be
Submitted to the People in
Time if Passed Before
March 4.
tFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Nov. 28.-One term or
six years for President Woodrow Will
son is now the scheme Of members OF
the House, who will try to push to
early passage the Clayton resolution
limiting the tenure of office Of the
President of the United states.
The extension OF the four-year term
Of President Wilson. it is argued, may
be submitted to the people for ratifica-
tion at the same time Congress sub
mits the proposed amendment to the
Constitution providing that no one who
has served as President of the United
States shall be eligible for reelection.
Representative Clayton, author of the
resolution and chairman Of the Ju-
dietary Committee, which presented a
favorable report to the House. said to-
day that he was not averse to an
amendment prolonging by two years
the term of Mr.. Wilson ana making
him ineligible thereafter for election as
Chief Executive. In fact, Mr.. Clayton
indicated that his resolution might be
perfected TO bring about just this
change.
Will Ask for Special Rule.
Mr.. Clayton will ask for a special
rule from the Rules Committee making
privileged his one-term resolution,
which is now on the House calendar,
but which might not be reached In the
regular routine OF business during the
approaching session OF Congress.
II is desired. IL possible. to obtain
the adoption OF this resolution during
the short session. in order that II may
be promptly submitted TO the states for
ratification. With fairly quick work
by the states the proposed change in
the Constitution may be accomplished
within the next four years and before
the quadrennial campaign for Presi-
I dent.
THE language OF the one-term resO-
luton" said Mr.. Clayton to-day, ''is
subject 10 amendment. When the reso-
luton is adopted there will be no am
biguity Of terms, and ii will specifically
apply not only to Mr. Roosevelt and
Mr.. Taft, but also 10 Governor Wilson,
who is to become President. / regard
il as probable that the resolution may
be amended so as TO provide for one
term OF six years for Mr.. Wilson, and
if this happens the entire. question
both as to the ineligibilty of Presi-
dents for reelection and the two years
additional tenure for Mr.. Wilson,
would be decided by the people OF the
several states
Hopes to See Adoption.
Il hope TO see the adoption Of the
resolution before March 1. and If it is
not reached i'm regular order the Ju-
dietary Committee will ask 10 have a
special rule making it privileged"
Chairman Henry of the House Rules
Committee is understood to be in ac-
cord with Chairman Clayton. both as
TO the one-term proposition and the ex-
| tension of Governor Wilson's term for
| two years, which would make the in
coming Democratic Executive the first
recipient Of the proposed longer tenure
! OF office.
! President Taft has intimated that
! the President should have one term OF
| six years, and the Democrats are In
clined to count on his approval Of the
suggested change.