The Alaska citizen., 1912-08-19
2D TERM BLOCKED
 FUR WILSON

WASHINGTON. July ,. - That William J. Bryan put one over" on Woodrow Wilson in drafting the platform of the Democratic national convention, was the assertion of members of congress today after they had digested the various blanks of that document Friends of both Speaker Clark and Underwood say that the fine Italian hand of Bryan appears in the plank which declares: We favor single presidential term and to that end urge the adoption Of an amendment to the constitution making the president of the United States ineligible for reelection, and We pledge the candidate of this convention to this principle"
 No plank in the platform is more definite than the one that bars the Democratic nominee. should he be elected, from succeeding himself in office.
 Not only is the party pledged to adopt a resolution submitting to the states request for an amendment 10 the constitution for but one term, but the candidate for the party him. self is pledged to accept that principle In other words, whether with his consent or without it, Governor Will son has pledged not to be a candi- date for a second term. Politicians recalled today that Grover Cleveland had made pledge that he would not be a candidate to succeed himself, but that afterwards he reconsidered his decision.
 Wilson is apparently permitted no choice in the matter It is not merely a question of his own good faith with the people. but of his party's good faith. That he shall have but one term is the pledge of the Democratic party to the people of the United States.
 Most of the members of congress are convinced that Bryan was anx- ious to obtain the nomination at Baltimore for himselif. but that the Wilson movement which he intended to aidup 10 a certain point in order 10 kill off Speaker Clark, got away from his control. They say that when he felt that his own candi- dacy was hopeless he wrote into the platform of the party the pro vision against a second term for Wilson.
 Bryan. according to the view of various leaders. had heard the ru- mors that Wilson would supplant him IS leader of the party if nominated for president. and he became con vinced that if the New Jersey man should become president renomina- ton and reelection would result al most as a matter of course.
 It was pointed out to Bryan that if Wilson made a good president the party would be throwing away its golden opportunity in making it impossible to select him again as standard bearer, but Bryan is said 10 have insisted that one term was ppOnph for any
 That Bryan should have taken this step to leave the nomination in 1916 an open fight does not sur prise those who know how strong IS his desire to be president of the United States Any man who strug- gles for sixteen years to be presl- dent does not rid himself of am- bition very easily. Since Bryan could not obtain the nomination this time, they say that 1t is quite natural that he should take steps to leave the matter open for 1916.
 The fact that Wilson even though elected will be permitted to serve only four years has already set the friends of Clark and Underwood talking about 1916. They say that the logical result will be the nomin- ation either of Clark or Underwood in 1916. The friends of the two different controls are waiting to see whether Governor Wilson will af- firm the pledge made for him in his party's platform.
 The Democratic leaders in con- gress have not yet decided whether they will make an effort to put through the one-term resolution or wait until the next session of con- gress. They are afraid that it might look as though Clark and Un- derwood were too eager. but if Gov ernor Clark himself reaffirms the pledge made in the platform. there could be no criticism of this kind and the leaders would accept him. AVIATl0N IFAn0