The Calumet news., 1912-08-20
Senator Borah Opposes lust One
Longer Term For Presi-
dent of U. S.
DEFENDS RIGHTS OF PEOPLE
Should Be Able to Continue Good
Man in the Office

Aug 20 Sen. Borah.
cf Idaho. in the Senate today spoke
against the proposed amendment TO the
constitution limiting the presidential
term to six years and making the pres
ident ineligible for reelection. He
said he would like to know what there
vas In the present situation which
should prohibit a man serving hts
country SO long as his acts and charac-
ter commanded the support and appro.
val of the majority OF his countrymen
He asked il anything had yet transpir-
ed In the more than one hundred years
experience that would indicate that the
present plan Of government was detec-
tive and expressed doubt that the sup
posed defects of the plan would be eli
minated by the proposed change.
NO one knows until a man mas been
an incumbent In that great office uhe
presidency in what manner he will
meet it's great responsibilities or how
wisely he may exercise its great power
said Senator Borah But at the end
of four years the record hes open To all.
The wisdom or want of wisdom. the
poise or want of poise. the understand
ing or the lack of understanding. the
duties OF the office. everything which
n thoughtful and considerate people
engaged in the grave task of choosing
a chief magistrate needs to know can
be known.
I'VE must certainly ne prepared at
all times to assert and successfully
maintain that the strength and virtue
of our individual citizenship is the
measure Of the strength and virtue OF
the government itself To assert to the
contary,7 is To assert that representa-
tive government has an inherent ana
incurable defect"
People Should Decide.
Senator Borah said that If the peo-
pie, in the exercise Of the franchise. |
nould not reject a dangerous man OF |
i'm Office a useful man. then |
ihe whole affair must terminate i'm a |
wreck.
mo form of free government" con-
Llnned the Senator. mo scheme of So
,ial policy can ever be devised by
which YOU can make a strong and etfi-
;ient and powerful government out OF
Incompetent and irresponsible citizens.
The power which is To keep this gov
ernment going. which is To supply il
with vitality and strength and durabil-
ty must be found outside Of the more
echnical forms of government outside
he formal statutes and constitution
must be found among the people
when il is not found there there Is not
rope elsewhere"
Senator Borah declared that the vi
al principle of representative gov
rnment is that the representative
hould return at stated periods for the
pproval or rejection of the people
the conclusive presumption being
hat in the form OF public conscience
We have not only the highest but the
'isest tribunal To which we can appl,
n so grave matter. II the jud dgment
[ ninety millions of people expressed
nder the orderly forms OF procedure
re not TO be accepted TO what arbitcr Z
'e'ii VIC 81 u IL Shoil bt tidi Sth ludl
man has become over ambitious, that
is plans seem to threaten the stabii-
y of our institutions. to whom can We
lbmit that proposition than to those
! whose keeping are all the institu- v
ons under the flag"
Business Tranquility.
The Senator said arguments for a
niger term We're advanced as plea
'r business tranquility. He said mar
alous strides had been made In the
ldustrial world and that business
)minated and directed everything and
very BODY. Il for one believe" said
he Senator. that we can pay too high
rice even for business tranquility the
under whose soothing shell
r sprout and grow special privileges q
Continued on Page Three.