The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-23
PRESIDENTIAL TERM CHANGE
The Advantages Of Longer Tenure
Without Reelection.

It is remarkable that in the pres
ent political campaign the pro
gramme of the "Progressiyes' has
not long ago included proposal to
change the Presidential period from
two possible terms of four years
each to one of six or eight years
with ineligibility as provided by
bills recently introduced in both
houses of congress For such a re
form is certainly in line with their
professed desire and purpose OF CIV
ing to the people more actual con
troll of affairs.
The power that may be and some
times has been welded by Presl-
dent for his own reelection, or FOR
that of his chosen candidate for the
succession, is enormous and consti-
tutes a menace to the will OF the
people. 1t is in part, TO prevent
such influence that the merit sys-
TEN is urged in place of the spoils
system, and it is to the credit OF our
recent Presidents that by extending
the operation OF the former they
have discarded the spoilsmens view
Of the power of appointment
though. to be exact, this power has
often proved boomerang. (Who
was II that said that every postof-
fee appointment made him six enc
mics and one lukewarm friendO
But, nevertheless, so long as there
are many Offices higher than the
clerical class to be filed by the ex-
ecutive and another term is in sight,
Presidents will continue to have the
temptation TO associate the two In
their minds. From Jackson to the
present day the usage has been uni
form, and uniformly Objectionable
and il will always be so till We adopt
a single term, with no hope of the
prolongation or return to power
The wellknown disadvantage which
each duadrennial contest produces,
beginning two years before the cleo
ton and lasting to the end OF the
term. are too important TO be ignored.
Among them are the intrigues pro
and con which cause legislation to be
considered from factional or political
points of view instead of on its mer-
it's. the diversion OF time and EFFORT
from the most efficient performance
of the duties of the Presidency and
of Congress, and the effect OF the ira
dition (whatever II may lack of real
basls) that Presidential year is a
bad one for business.
lie us imagine the reform accom-
plshed. Think what the Office would
gain in dignity and worth; how free
the President would be to plan and
pursue his public policies exempt
from partisan considerations, and
how much freer members Of Con
eress would be so to consider them;
how Independent he would be to
stand for the people, of whom he is
the chief exponent because he is the
only official elected by all the people.
His fame and the opportunity OF
establishing il by great services, un-
thwarted by patronage or the hope
of patronage, would be to him daily
inspiration, and whatever might be
thought OF his policies. he would
leave Office with greater selfrespect
and a higher regard from his fellow
citizens OF all political faiths than is
now possible in the atmosphere OF
detraction In which a high-minded
President must live How long shall
IL be before this nation Of business
men" awakens TO the folly OF permit
ting the personal equation to distract
attention from the real business o
government April Century