Valdez daily prospector., 1912-06-21
"THE sIx-YEAR TERM FOLLY"

very able editor of the Boston Herald, clearly mistakes the sen timent of the American people and the trend of public opinion when he declares there is no de- mand for the resolution now pending in Congress extending the term of the president to six years and making him ineligible for re-electinn. The Herald, on this point, says:
 "The action of the Senate com mitIcc of the judiciary in pro- posing an amendment Lo the Con- StituIinn providing a siy-yrar term for the president, with in eligibility for rc-clcction, is not worth discussing. IL never would have been seriously considered but for the RuoScvrlt candidacy, and to that il could mol now ef- fcclivcly apply. We need more elasticity to our presidential SyS- tenn rather than less. An rXrclI- tive who has dropped out of touch with Congress and with the people, like Andrew Johnson. ceases to Dc useful or even safe" :"
 The record shows that the framrrS of the Constitution ser iously debated the proposition embodied in tho resolution offer ed by the Senate committee of the judiciary.
 Under the present system, the president, elected for four years, is compelled to spend year or more of that term in building his political fences for re-nnmina- tiOn.
 The interests of the country have suffered by President Taft's remarkable activities in that line. His prctcnliOuS legislative pro gram, offered at the two special and the two regular sessions of his administration, have Hren shot full of political blow holes and nIangled beyond recognition. His administration must be re- corded as one of nOn-achievc- mrnt, however laudablr his plans and intentions were in the begin ming. The fault belongs less to Mir. Taft than to the system.
 On August 6, i787, the coIilmit- ice on details of ihe first Consti- tuliOnal convention reported the first comprehensive draft of the proposed Constitution. IL con iaincd this provision aS to the Executives:
 ''The executive power of the United StaicS shall be vested in a single person. His stile shall be The President of the United States of America; and his title shall bc, His Excrllrncy.' He shall he elected by ballot by the legislature. He shall hold his of flee during the term of seven years. hut shall noi bc elected a second time"
 The question has been more or less prominent ever since. To- day inc sentiment m favor of inc change is taking concrete form. The people are tired of making the presidential nomination a pO- Iilical fnoiball for half of a pr"si- drni'S term. Experience has proved that in four years there is barely time enough for prcSi- dent lo settle down in harness, to Ici his policies started and his machinery working smoothly. He should bc given lime to show results. Deprived of the opportunity of second term, he will have no excuse for allowing any considerations oth- CT than that of the highest duty 10 influence him. Knowing that history will judge him by his per formancea in that one term and that he has no opportunity ta repair any shortcomings by se- curing second, hc will do his utmost to mako q creditable showing.
 When the. change comes, as iI must. the Chief Executive will bc President of the whole people, not inc head of a political fac lion as is flic case today, and will have lime to work out a con struciiyc Legislative program, ,tnhomporcd hy fhC demands Of