Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1912-08-21
bORAH AGAINST
THE PROPOSED
SIX YEAR TERM
Idaho Senator Speaks in
Opposition to Suggest
ed Amendment to
Constitution
PAST HAS PROVED
PRESENT PLAN GOOD
People Should Be Able to
Reject a Dangerous
Man and Reflect
Useful One


WASHINGTON. Aug. 2O:-Senator
Borah, ot Idaho, in the senate today
spoke against proposed amendment
to the constitution limiting the pres
idential term to six Years and making
the president ineligible for reelection
He said he would. ike to know what
there was in tho present situation
which would prohibit a man serving
his country so long as his acts and
character commanded the support and
approval of the majority of his coun-
trymen. lie asked if anything had
yet transpired 1.-THE more than one
hundred wears experience that would
indicate that the present plan of gov
eminent was defective and expressed
doubt that the supposed defects of the
plan would be eliminated by the pro
posed change
NO one knows until man has been
an incumbent. in that great office (the
presidency in what manner he will
meet its great responsibilities or how
wisely he may exercise its great
power" said Senator Borah. "But at
the end of four years the record lies
open to all. The wisdom or want of
wisdom, the poise or want of poise,
the understanding or the lack of IN
Outstanding, the duties of the Office,
everything which a thoughtful and
considerate people. engaged in the
grave task of choosing a chief magis-
trate needs to know can be known.
We must certainly be prepared
at all times to assert and successful
ly maintain that the strength and vir-
tue OF our individual citizenship is
the measure OF the strength and vir-
tue Of the government itself. To as
sert to the contrary. is to assert that
representative government has an in
herent end incurable defect"
Senator ROrah said that If the peo.
pie. in the exercise Of the franchise.
could not reject a dangerous man or
continue in Office a useful man. then
the whole affair must terminate in a
wreck
Power Must Be With People
mo form Of free government" con-
timed the senator, mo scheme of So
Cial Uolity can ever be devised by
which You can make a strong and eff
cient and powerful government out
Of incompetent and irresponsible cit
liens. The power which is to keep
this government going, which is TO
supply II with vitality and strength
and durability must be found outside
of the mere technical forms of GOV
ernmnnt, outside the formal statutes
and cODstitution-must be found
among the people-when il is not
found there there is not hope else
where"
Senator ROrah declared that the VI
tai principle Of representative gov
eminent is that the representative
should return At stated periods for
the approval or rejection of the peo-
pie, the conclusive presumption be-
ing that in the form of public con-
science We have not only the highest
but the wisest tribunal to which we
can apply in so grave a matter. II the
Judgment Of ninety million Of people
expressed under the orderly forms Of
procedure are not to be accepted 10
what arbiter shall We go? If it shall
be charged that q man has become
over ambitious, that his plans seem
TO threaten the stability of our insti-
tutions, TO whom can We submit that
proposition than to those in whose
keeping are all the institutions under
the flag"
Special Privileges Bad.
The senator said arguments for a !
longer term were advanced as a plea /
for business tranquility He said mar.
veloas strides had been made in the /
Industrial world and that business
dominated ard directed everything /
and everybody. q for one believe" I
said the senator, that we can pay /
toe high a price even for business
tranquility under /
whose shelter sprout and grow special I
privileges, governmental fayors, mil I
lion times more menacing to the life I
Of a republic than dictators; that bus I
mess tranquility which causes men
to become Indifferent to obligations OF l
government. and many times units 4
them for the sacrifices which every /
is called upon 10 make for the 4
general good. Back Of all forms and /
details Of government. back OF ali stat
utes and constitutions. back OF eff
Gent democracy, back OF successful
government is the cit 4
izenship of this country"
He urged that public institutions 4
and laws should be shaped with a /
care foi the building up of citizen 4
ship and for the training and for the /
sacrifices and obligations expected and /
imposed by ali who live rightly in a /
republic
The senator said the concentration I
and Capitalization Of wealth, social i
exelasiyengss and Capitalization of 4
government. were msnacing and mo /
menious. He said that the power now
lodged In the bureaus OF this govern. i
nent, which were removed from con
troll OF sympathy Of the people, no
fraiacr OF our constitution ever con;
tempiafed
In conclusion Senator Borah said: /
When Caesar comes. when the man I
on. horseback enteres the other end OF /
Penasylvsnia avenue. il will be after
the question OF the terms OF Office