The Washington herald., 1912-05-05

HrA@ 1NttUu0(ru 1y AAI. Not--fNA- atl4
could not be avoided BY MF. Taft.
Apart from this personal bitterness,
however, there IS nothing Objectionable
IN the fact that two distinguished men
are contending before the people for
the greatest honor which can be given
to an American citizen In this coun-
Try where the individual opinion as
finally expressed in the ballot is the
basis Of government. there is much
value in a sharp definition of issues,
contrast Of characters, ! criticism and
defense of Official action. II whets the
interest Of the average man in govern
mental affairs to hear or read discus
sion Of public questions. and brings into
play his Judgment and his patriotism.
Nor do We hold any sympathy with
the sentiment that it is undigni6ed for
a President to present his own cause
through the medium of personal tours.
After all has been said and done. a
President is simply the agent or servant
Of the people. and il is to them that he
must render an account Of his steward
ship. He cannot expect reelection un-
less he can justify his administration,
and he must necessarily be the best
pleader Of his cause. In this cam
paign, as in all others. the American
people constitute . great jury which is
called upon to give its verdict. In
order 70 reach a judgment it must hear
the facts and the arguments, and it will
listen more .attentively when it is adj
dressed personally by the man who di-
rectly seeks a favorable decision.
One result of this unprecedented
campaign, however, will unquestionably
be the growth of a sentiment in favor
of single Presidential term of six
years. This suggestion is not a new
one In the very foundation of the
government, when the Constitution was
being framed, proposition of single
term with ineligibiiity for reelection
was considered, and experience has
shown that il ought to have been
adopted The Constitution of the Con-
federate States of america did con-
tain such a provision. and the time is
coming when the present conditions
will be changed.
The country has wearied of the oft
recurring turmoil and uncertainty Of
Presidential election. 1t is plainly dis
satisfied with the scheming and cam
paigning to which a President who
seeks the Endorsement of a renomina-
ton and reelection must resort. In
many States, as in Virginia, there is a |
wise provision which makes a Governor
ineligible for reelection, and guberna-
torial administrations are, therefore,
free from selfish considerations. The
same condition ought to attach to the
Presidency; and the object lesson now
before. the people win undoubtedly has
ten the day when the Federal Constitu-
ton will be amended
1t is an III wind which blows nobody
good, and if out of the present sit
uation this great reform shall be
evolved, Taft and Roosevelt will not
have fought each other in vain. /
Many months ago. in reviewing the
political outlook, il was stated in these
columns that Champ Clark would be
the probable Democratic nominee, be-
cause in the event of a deadlock be-
tween Wilson and Harmon he would
be the most available compromise candi-
date. As the case now stands, he is
the leading aspirant on the Democratic
side, his victory in Massachusetts, add
ing materially to his advantage If, as
seems likely, he should be the eventual
of the votes which Mr.. Un-
derwood has already been given in
Georgia, Florida, and elsewhere, he
will be in sooth a formidable candi-
late. Woodrow Wilson is plainly los
ng ground, and Gov. Harmon has de-
reloped little or no strength. Mr..
clarks following. on the contrary, is
not sectional in its nature. II is in
he East as well as in the West. His
personality seems to appeal to the
Democratic masses, and he continues to
get the delegates while pursuing the
wen tenor of his way. He has made
10 spectacular tours; he has not at
empted 10 turn the limelight upon
limself in the House; he has not lost
MS balance through political postur-
ng.
The result is that to-day he occupies
he most favorable position on the
Democratic side. 1t is, perhaps, too
:arly to positively predict his noulina-
ion. The Democratic convention nom !
mates by two-thirds vote, and cir
may arise or combinations
'e effected which win entirely alter the
resent trend of things. There is no :
liscounting the fact, however, that at
he present time Mr. Clark is very ,
much in the lead, and If his band
wagon continues to receive accessions
will soon be crowded by delegates !