New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-26

The assault upon the unwritten prohibit
ton against third term made in the wild
scramble for the Republican nomination
warns us of the vital necessity OF incor-
porating in our Constitution a safeguard
against repeated terms. In the very be-
ginning of our Constitution making u was
urged by delegates participating that safe
~ required q constitutional limitation Of
the period Of years one man might hold the
Office OF President. History warned them
OF the coming Cf man whose insatab bic
lust Of power would be as consuming as
CFsars. towering high above his love II
country. The danger seemed, even 10 the
pessimists, 10 have passed with the estan-
l!shment Of precedent by Washington.
Jefferson and their successors. Indeed,
where lives the man who has not either
heard or said that an unwrtten law for
could be so foolhardy as 70 seek further
he would be crushed by the wrath Of
patriotic and intelligent people?
Denounced Third Term Candidate.
The man who split his party at Chicago
once recognized the third term tradition
and acknowledged its application 70 his
situation. on the eve Of his triumph IN 1914
he said:
The wise custom which limits the Presi-
dent 70 two terms regards the substance
and not the form. and under no Circum-
stances will ! be a candidate for or accept
another nomination
Wrong IN this year OF grace. he was
night in that. Peradventure he was honest
with his soul. and he may have confessed
to il that even q President may be tempted
TO resort 10 sordd devices and shameless
opportunities 10 gain his ambition. II so.
he was in mental condition 10 realize 10 the
full the danger 70 the Republic involved IN
setting aside custom constituting the only
hulUark against the assaults of men whose
ambition chokes their patriotism ana
whose selfish desire for personal victory
and power throttles those moral Scrupies
With which they may once have been en-
dowed
Would the man who threw his hat in the
ring and sought 70 slug his opponent over
the ropes in his fight for third term rest
satisfied with its achievement tlearIN'
mis- lust Of power would have brooked no
such limitation A third term would but
have whetted his desire for more ana ;
the terms slipped away each renewal Wou,d
discover greater injury 70 our Constitution
70 the form OF government established uh-
der il and TO every legal curb on MS I'M
perious will This IS the man VINO men-
hv usurpatiCn Of states rights and with
out authority OF constitutional amendmeht.
the man VINO took the lsfhmus or fahaWa
and LET Congress debate about u after-
Uard'. the man who having enough money
10 send the feet on its famous cruise 10
the Pacific. sent II without sanction or Con
gress leaving II 70 appropriate me money ne.
necessary This Is the man who advocated
federal Incorporation for the increase OF
mower al Washington and the IlRh'ehLE
Of
10, I,bo authorized the absorption OF the
Tarpeeeee Coal and Iron Company by the
steel trust: the man VINO by many SuCh
5r.s+ic acts ard by unnumbered words. has
sought 70 batter down our statutory ana
constitutional safeguards, 49, a.,,o- ,t,,,
He who runs may read the DANGER uldt
threatens the country ruled by such a man
NJ Ue envy Mexico her thirty years ~
1.ed6ed life or the war the divorce from
Disg nrecIpits ted the end Of which no man
r,eV prophesvo The way 10 prevent a NE
series Of terms Is 70 prevent the preSehs
attrnpt 10 capture the once TOT tnFu
ter,o One OF our opportunities IN this
campaign is to lead the night against
third term That opportunity shouId APP
peal TO every drop of patriotic hlood now
ing in our veins.
Would Limit Presidents Term.
T-nouestiorablv We have been wrong IN
assuming that a tradition against tnlIg
term constitutes a sufficient safeguard
against INSCRIPTIONS ambition FOR unllm-
tied power We need a definite constitu-
tionai Limitation which shall prevent I'M
nerialistic souls from forcing personal con
tinuation in Office for long periods or for
life and the personal selection or a sue
Cpssor in Office. And the constitutional pro-
vision should 20 one step further than our
racentIy assaulted tradition. The provision
should limit TO A single term. Then VIII
thu occupants OF the office nave 6efore
them but the one ambition so 10 fulll the
preat trust reposed IN them that upon re-
neonIe the commenda ton We'll done, thou
good and faithful servant
For Downward Tariff Revision.
Judge Parker spoke at great length Of
tariff revision as the paramount issue Of
the campaign, denouncing the Republican
partv's policy and the passage Of the
Psvne-Aldrich bill. He continued
Under sagacious and intrepid Democratic
leadership special bills have been passed
having for their purpose a revision Of the
tariff downward, ultimately 70 a revenue
basis These bills are known as free list,
wooI cotton, metals chemicals, sugar and
excise The Presidents use Of the veto
power has postponed, however the hour
when the people shall enter into the enjoy
nent OF the relief proposed until after the
inauguration Of the next President
The temporary failure, owing 10 the &C.
ton Of the electorate Of Canada, OF the
effort TO effeCtuate reciprocity with that
country Is regrettable. The agreement
proposed was I'm the interest OF the people
Of both countries. The movement started
was In the right direction, because IL was
toward a competitive policy. It's immediate
and laudabe purpose was 70 lessen the
cost Of living in each country. ,... -
Whether later the mutual advantage OF
our respective peoples snail be appreciated
NV our neighbors across the border, the
consequences that we took the rlght course
should content US. IN al proDaoihty, now
ever, the sober second thought OF the peo-
pie of Carada VIII induce recohsiueldIlo"
Of the action Of last year H..
All honor 10 the Democratic House
which stood for the good Of the nation as
whole and prevented the repeaI OF 'ne ne 80
procty act, thus leaving the door open 70
Canada If her people shall later eIecI u
accept our proposal
Roosevelt and the Trusts.
On the trust question Judge Parker saia.
IN part
We are Indebted 10 the President for the
evidence that his predecessor. having HTst
enjoyed an interview with George w. feI-
kins, restrained his Attorney General from
bringing suit against the Harvester co'il-
For the Steel Corporation he went fur
ther, for he wrote his Attorney General IN
advance Of its absorption OF the tennessee
Coal and Iron Company that ne had ue-
Cided 10 interpoSe no objection.
Indeed, he apparently stood READY 70 per
form similar kindly offices for all corpora
tons, for he advocated the passage OF
statute permitting voluntary submission OF
all engaged in interstate commerce 10 leu
eral authority. with the advantage TO them
Of immunity from prosecution because OF
contracts made, II stamped In advance
with executive approval as reasonable.
The effect of these and similar acts IN
the circumstances induced the result when
Senator La Toilette referred TO In re-
cent speech in these words: When Roose
welt became President the total amount OF
the stock and bond issues OF all comoina-
tons and trusts, including the railways
then in combination, was only 8,7H,eUVO.
When he turned the country over TO Iatt,
total capitalization OF the trusts and com
Dinations amounted 10 the enormous sum
Of SCI, 672, 10000. more than 20 per cent OF
which was water.
Whatever Of excuse may be offered. the
ugly truth Is that the Republican national
machine has received the money OF the