Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-09

The effort to elect a President to a sec
ond term is a prolific source of politica
corruption. neglect Of official duty ani
betrayal of trust on the part of public
servants" said Senator Works of Cali
fornia. in speech today in the Senate II
support of his resolution for a single six.
year presidential term.
The Works resolution proposes a con.
stitutional amendment that would make
a President ineligible for reelection afte,
a single term. Strong support developed
for the resolution in the last session anG
it is now on the calendar of the Senate
for early action.
Degrading to President.
1T is degrading to the President him
self and brings his great Office into dis
respect, often contempt added Senator
Works, in referring to presidential cam
paigns for reelection. 1.-The Presiden
has come to be regarded as the head Of
his party, not as a candidate only, but
as President, and not as the head of the
nation. 1t is most pernicious doctrine.
he has the power of appointment OF
thousands of federal officers in every
part OF the country. Practically, in MAX
Ing these appointments, he acts as the
head of his party and not as President.
If he Is reelected the appoinAees may
reasonably expect to retain their offices.
a large part of his time that should
be devoted to the public service is given
over to politics and the efforts to secure
his reelection. He is regarded by his
appointees as their political chief, to
whom they owe allegiance because he ap-
pointed them. They are tempted to serve
him rather than the country
Headquarters of Party.
''The White House is turned into the
headquarters of political party, where
a press bureau is maintained in the in
terest Of the present chief and leader of
his party. who is for the time being the
President of the United States. The
members of this cabinet become his
political advisers. In this they are not
serving their country. but the seeker
after second term. The appointees in
become his politica. aids and devote much
of their time paid for by the government,
his service as leader and candidate for
re-ele ctiOn.
1T Is vicious system that cannot be
denounced too strongly or too often. The
people Of free republic should not sub
init to 1t for day. Every lover of his
country should speak out against it and
support any measure intended and reason
ably calculated to put an end to it,
Would Remove Temptation.
IF a President were limited tn one
term and rendered ineligible to a second
election there would be no incentive or
temptation to appoint men to Office with
view to their support Of him as a can
didate for a second term. He would need
no political army. AS a political leader
he would be useless He would have no
motive or desire. other than to do his
duty as President and make for himself
an honorable record as a public Official.
1--WE have had some highly honorable
men in the White House. men who would
have condemned the use Of patronage by
others for their political advancement. bu,
there Is not one Of them who has been
candidate for reelection who has not
willingly profited by such conditions. No,
one of them. 1 believe. but who would
have regarded 1t an act of treachery on
the part Of one Of his appointees to .op-
pose or even fail to support his candidacy
for reelection"
Senator Works was unable to conclude
his speech today owing to the cOnvenine
OF the Archibald court of Impeachment
He gave notice that he would resume to.
morrow. The speech covered 101 type
written pages.