The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-19
NEEDED CHANGE In
PRESIDENTIAL TERM
WOULD LENGTHEN TERM OF OFFICE
Folly Of Permitting Personal Equation
to Draw Attention from Bust
ness Of Cove rnment.

Moss o. aoNo uIUents
Editorial in the April Century,
1t is remarkable that in the present
political campaign the program of the
"Progressives" has not long ago in
cluded proposal to change the presi-
Dental period from two possible terms
OF four years each to one of six or eight
years with ineligibility, rs provided by
bills recently introduced in both houses
of congress. For such reform is Ger.
tainly in line with their professed desire
and purpose of giving to the people a
more actual control of affairs.
The power that may be and some
times has been welded by President
for his own re. election, or for that of
his chosen candidate for the succession,
is enormous and substitutes menace
to the will of the people. 1t is in part,
to prevent such influence that the merit
system is urged in place of the spoils
system, and it is to the credit of our
recent presidents that by extending the
operation of the former they have dis.
carded the spoilsmen's view of the
power OF appointment though. to be
exact, this power has often proved a
boomerang. (Who was it that said
that every postoffice appointment made
him six enemies and one lukewarm
friendly
But, nevertheless, 20 long as they
are many offices higher than the cleri-
cal class to be filled by the executive
and another term is in sight, presidents
will continue to haye the temptation to
associate the two in their minds. From
Jackson to the present day the usage
has been uniform, and uniformly OBJ
jectionable, and it will always be 80 un-
til we adopt a single term, with no
hope of the prolongation or return to
power.
The we'll known disadvantages which
each quadrennial contest produces, be-
ginning two years before the election
and lasting to the end of the term, are
too important to be ignored. Among
them are the intrigues pro and con
which cause legislation to be considered
frem fractional or political points of
view instead Of on its merits; the diver
sion of time and effort from the most
efficient performance of the dutiss of
the Presidency and of Congress and the
effect of the tradition Whatever it may
lack of real basis) that presidential
year is bad one for business. "a
Let us Imagine the reform accom-
plished. Think what the Office would
gain In dignity and worth; how free the
president would be to plan and pursue
bis public policies exempt from parti.
san considerations and how much ,freer
Of Congress would be so to
them; how independent he
would be to stand for the people, of
whom he is the chief exponent, because
he is the only official elected by all the
people. = =
bis fame and the opportunity OF es-
tablishing II BY. great services, I'M
thwarted BY patronage or the hope of
would be to hima daily in
'piration. and whatever might be
thought of his policies, he would leave
office with greater self.respect and a
higher regard for his fellow. citizens
IF all political faiths than is now posi-
Die in the atmosphere of detraction in
which q highminded president must
i've. How long shall it be before this
nation Of business men" awakens to
The folly Of permitting the personal
question to distract attention from the
real business of governments
II have been somewhat costive, but