New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-04
Would Take Him Out Of Politics.

The fact that tho President would not be
tempted 10 indulge in partisan politics while
I'm Office was one OF the advantages which
MI Iauterbach said he thought would APP
peal to the public generally. TWO elections
where there are now three was another
thing which found favor with him. 1t
cannot be denied" he said. that a Presi-
Dental election, with its months Of cam
palgniug, primaries and wearying conven-
tons. has a disturbing influence upon the
whole country. Anything that would lessen
these evils. I believe, would be a step in
the right direction"
Welding Ring, former president Of the
Produce Exchange. said,
L am strongly in favor OF q single six
year term for our Presidents Under pres
ent conditions our Chief Executive IS prone
20 devote the greater part OF HIS energies
and time 10 the securing OF a renomlna-
ton and reelection. or course there have
been and may be in the future some high
class men who will not be tempted in this
fashion The majority, however, will natu-
rally do everything possible 10 secure new
lease OF power
a single term OF six years would remedy
all this. our Presidents under such an err
raugement, would have no friends TO pay
off and no enemies TO punish. In New Jer-
sey the plan 10 have the Governor ineligible
for. reelection works very well. There is
no necessity for him to lay plans and plots
for reelection. He IS permitted, on tho
other hand. to bend all his energies to tho
work which he was chosen TO do
Mr. ToNuna's Arnur,snts
Henry r. Towne. president and director
~ the Yale 6 Towne Manufacturing Com
panv and president of the Merchants As
ISOLATION said:
II am in favor Of the single term. either
OF six or seven years. II would remove
some OF the contending elements in our ma
tlonal politics and would greatly beneit the
business world by lessening the recurring
Presidential elections. The disturbing ele-
ments that our present system have devel-
oped would be eliminated. The experience
Of other nations confirms ME IN this opinion.
"A single term. too. would remove from
the Presidents thought the question OF sue
ceeding himself. AS things are now, re-
nomination is demanded as a vindication
OF a particular administration. 4 single
term would eliminate all these unsaus-
factory features Of our present arrange
ment."
Charles p. Rowland president OF the
Public Education Association, differed
Il don't think II WOULD be a successful
experiment" he said AS is the case with
all political philosophy there is an argu-
ment In It's favor. namely. that IL would
take the President out of politics: but that
question, though always troublesome, was
never serious until the extraordinary polit-
zeal conduct OF Roosevelt made IL so. and
probably will rarely be a danger.
Opposing Arguments.
There are, think, more important con-
siderations on the other side which are,
very briefly, these:
81. The limitation to a single term would
he another artificial check upon the Will
and perhaps the legitimate need of the
country We have already at least enough
OF such constitutional checks and balances.
The tradition against third term is strong
enough to protect us against a .third-term
candidate; an organic growth of opinion, It
js therefore better than a constitutional
provision.
so The executive and legislative branches
are already far enough apart II the Presi-
dent had no connection with the majority
OF his party in the Legislature, the recip-
rooal concessions which are wholesome in
the long run would much diminish. and