Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-27
A SIX-YEAR TERM.


Four years elapse too rapidly. Once
every four years Is too often 10 have
the country all torn up over a presi-
Dental campaign. Politics always have
a deleterious effect on the business of
the country. Trade Is more or less de-
moralized. Merchants who have to
watch carefully the ebb and tide Of
trade, and the increase or decrease Of
patronage. are always unhappy and
dissatisfied during a presidential cam
paign. They always expect TO dis
count their profits very considerably
from this cause. The uncertainty as
TO who will be elected; the doubt as
to the character OF the policies to be
followed by the incumbent; the fuss
over the tariff and the position the
new administration will take as to GER
tain and sundry articles; the kind of
advisers the president will have in his
cabinet; the presidents attitude to-
ward trusts and monopolies; what
measures he may take to curb the ag-
gressiveness of Wall street-all the IN
certainty which attends upon change
of the governments personnel, natur-
ally is attended by an unsettled condi-
ton, and everybody is mighty glad
when it is over and the people can
get down to active work, without be-
ing harassed by all these problems.
Why not six years and no second
term?
That is the question which Senator
Works Of California has raised. And
it looks good to everybody except the
politicians. He has introduced a reso-
luton in the senate proposing an
amendment to the United States con-
stitution fixing the presidents term Of
Office at six years and making him in
eligible to reelection.
Some of his points are so pertinent
and impressive, that they are given, in
brief, as follows:
IF this change were made the Amer
lean people would be spared the hui
initiating spectacle of a president of
the United States travelling up and
down the country. guarded by an army
of officers and private detectives, max
ing political speeches and urging his
own reelection. The White house
would not be turned into a political
press gallery managed by the secre
tary of the president. The officia
head of this great nation would be
free from the overpowering tempta
: ton to use his Office and his power
as such to secure a second term.
Let us look for a moment at the
consequences, or some of them, tina
flow from this condition of things
The president has the power TO ap
point thousands of public officers
They are found in every city, tow
and village in the country. Every on,
OF these appointees. from a cabine
! officer down, with very rare excer
tions, considers himself as owing DC
litical allegiance to the president pei
sonally. In fact, with most of then
7 this personal political allegiance
looked upon as far more binding tina
their official obligation to the public
when the presidential term of o.
flee is about TO expire you will fin
u them all, from the highest to the low
/ est, lined up for him and supportin
him for a second term. II they ar
, capable of il they take the stump i
, his behalf. If not stump orators the
; belong TO the gumshoe brigade tina
4, works so effectually with the indiviC
ual voter
l The question Of his fitness for
second term or his convictions on ful
a damental governmental questions ha
8. no weight with them. He is the
political chief, as they understand, an
= their support is his absolute RICH
S But there is another consideration {
g no little weight with the president
. appointees. II he is not reelected the
y will lose their Jobs, and thereby III
e country be deprived of their most va
liable services.
\. ut is not alone that such a systel
enables the president to build up
i great political machine, with repr
v sentatives in every county of ever
il state in the union. through which /
may force his denomination, that
meets with public condemnation, b.
II because II imposes a burden upon tn
r presidential Office that IL should n,
10 bear Why should the president |
burdened with the appointment of II
thousands of federal officials now su
It ject 20 his choice?
ID at was an unfortunate day for tn
IN country when one of its distinguish
honorable and well beloved citizens 1
augurated the system. as candida
g for president, Of receiving delegat,
d at his home and discussing polite
- questions, ostensibly for their inform
ton. but in fact to be sent broadca
throughout the country. That was II
beginning of an evil and wholly i
excusable custom, by which the gre
[. office of president of the United Stat,
E. was brought down TO the level of SCI
IS seeking politics and personal appea
S for Office"