The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-29
AN ENGLISH WRITER ON
THIRD TERM FALLACY.
Mere Suggestion Destructive of Ideals
of Democracy.

i OF democracy.
i The Weiser American in its last is
sue publishes an article written by
Mr.. J. H. billiard for the Public, un-
der the heading. "The banning
Clause in Any Third Term Greed"
The article follows:
An English writer has commented
with surprise and admiration on the
capability WHICH the typical American
has shown of rising to the occasion
when placed in position of political
importance. This writer cited McKin-
ley as an illustration. There are in
stances of lesser note in the nation,
state, and in each community. l re-
call at this moment the case of may
or in one of our larger cities. There
was nothing in his previous career to
warrant prediction of successful ad-
ministration. He was a man without
much education, just commonplace
semi political citizen, nominated by
the organization, it would SEEM quite
by accident, and elected in spiritless
campaign. And yet this man made,
even by the confession of opponents,
a splendid official. He was more
than faithful to the prescribed duties
of his position. He was an aggres-
sive leader in all matters of civic i'm
provemnt.
The point is that we have plenty
of citizens in this republic capable
| of filling any political position, from
president down. George Washington
thought so in his day. He did not
think that George Washington was
necessary to keep the country from
collapsing. All the presidents of the
United States have been capable men,
and some of the least celebrated have
been the most useful. Let US re-
member that we are not seeking for
rulers but for intelligent public SER
wants. If Our democracy cannot find
and supply these in amply sufficient
numbers, then we had better confess
failure and go back couple of CEN
turtles. 1t is all right in a monarchy
for the king or his minister to say,
| alone can save the state. But such |
an utterance is an insult or a joke
in democracy, if it is democracy.
So coming to the present situation
in our political affairs, we object to
the solemn-sounding words of certain
men in high position that Mr.. Roose-
welt is the one man who can fill at
this time for the good of the nation
the position of president. We have
no objection to Governor this or SEN
ator that saying that Mr.. Roosevelt
is the one man who can save the
Republican party from defeat. That is
all right. That is party matter.
But to say openly, or even to sug-
gest or imply that Mr.. Roosevelt. or
any other man, is necessary to save
this nation is slanderous utterance
against the nation. This is the damn
ing clause in any third-term creed.
The very advocacy of a third term
candidacy in the face of q splendid
tradition is the confession of weakness
in capability and failure, unworthy of
American citizenship. and the mere
suggestion of the necessity of such
action is utterly and pitifully destruc-
tive to the ideals of democracy. The
men who are advocating third. and
maybe fourth, and so forth, term for
Mr.. Roosevelt are blind to the fact
that, in trying to cure certain griev-
ances which they see. they are flying
to the chiefest of evils, which Wash
ington foresaw and others since have
foreseen, is the insidious idea of some
in which resort must be
had to what has been known in his
tory as the "strong man." or "the
man on horseback" or to what the
people themselves have call