The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-11-25
SIX-YEAR TERM
TO Be DISCUSSED
Congress May Pass a Resolution to
Extend the Term of the
President.
WILSON REMAINS SILENT
ON SIX-YEAR MATTER
Both Houses Believed to Favor Leg
islation-Some Opposition
Develops.

That Congress will pass a resolution
in the coming session or early in the new
Congress proposing Constitutional
amendment extending the term of the
President from four to six years and
making ineligible for reelection any
man who has held the ofice, is the be-
lief of responsible leaders in both the
House and the Senate. Tho question
was brought forward prominently in the
closing days of the last session, and
resolutions prescribing a six-year term.
with a provision that mo person who has
held the office shall be again eligible
were reported in both Houses. An order
the resolution reported to that body the
right OF way in the coming session.
The Democratic leaders declare that If
the Senate acts on the measure the
House will concur without delay.
The proposal TO limit the President to
one term only was made in the Senate
at the height of the primary contest
for the nomination waged early in the
year by Mr.. Taft and Col Roosevelt.
1t had the support of such men as Sena-
tor Root and many prominent Demo-
Gratis and Progressives, and was in
dorsed by the Democratic party organ
ization in the House.
Since the adjournment of the last Con-
gress the Democratic party. through the
platform adopted at the Baltimore con-
vention, has gone on record in favor of
the one-term idea. There has been a
good deal of speculation as to how
President-elect Wilson would feel by
this particular declaration OF his party
platform. Democratic leaders profess to
be confident that whatever Gov. Will
sons feelings on this score that he will
never have a chance to serve a second
term. They express the opinion that
the proposed constitutions, amendment
will be ratified by the States long be-
fore the Wilson administration comes to
an end.
Upon the occasion OF his nominate
for the Presidency in 1896 Mr.. Bryan an
nounced that if elected he would not be
a candidate for the nomination four
years later. He reiterated this declara-
ton in 1900 and 1905. He was response
BILE for the one-term principle enun-
ciated in the Baltimore platform.
Some Opposition Expected.
While sentiment in Congress appears
to be largely in favor of the proposed
one-term amendment the pending reso-
lutions will not be passed without a
fight. The Progressives are divided on
the question. Senator Cummins of Iowa
is favorable to the plan. He reported
from the Committee on the judiciary the
resolution now pending in the Senate. On
the other hand. Senator Borah of Idaho.
who is a Progressive, is opposed to the
plan. He delivered a speech against it
at the last session. This proposition
has no virtue in il that / can see," said
Senator Borah to-day. "A six-year term
is too long for an incompetent President
and not long enough for a competent
executive. No matter how able a man
may be he is largely an experiment
when he goes into office. After he has
served term Of four years we have
the record before US and know how to
apprise his worth. II he has done well
he is entitled TO another term. If he
fails to measure up to the requirements
the people have their. remedy at the end
of his term. l have heard no argument
advanced in behalf OF the one-term idea
that convinces me that it should be in
corpQTated in the Constitution. There
fore. l shall continue my fight against
the pending resolution
The opinion is generally expressed
by politicians that unless a cOnstitu-
tional amendment as proposed is
adopted that sooner or later Gov. will
son will have to disclose whether he
approves or disapproves the one-term
plank of the Baltimore platform. Up
to date he has not discussed, even re-
motely, the one-term plank A lot of
Democrats who are figuring four years
ahead are anxious to know just what
President-elect Wilson thinks OF the
one-term plan. They are devising
ways and means 10 smoke him out.
and are hopeful that the forthcoming
discussion of the question in the Sem
ate and House will provoke Gov. Will
son to utteranCe.