Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-05-10
LONGER PRESIDENTIAL TERMS

The presidential campaign has
aroused, all over the country, inter-
est in the proposition of making the
presidential terms longer and restrict
ing the chief executive to but one
term. AS suggested by President
Taft, the most popular plan appears
to be to extend the term to six years
with but one term in office for each
official.
There Is much to commend the
adoption of such an amendment to
the constitution, and but little to be
said in opposition. The quadriennial
national struggle for succession in
the presidential chair, is disconcert-
ing. 1t always has a tendency to re-
tard business, and causes q certain
feeling of unrest and instability to
pervade the country. Every four
years the nation is plunged into the
turmoil of a political fight that abb
serbs and overshadows everything
else. Much money Is expended in
these struggles, and the country Is at
a fever heat until the decision of the
people is announced. To be sure the
success of any party at the polls
rarely affects the volume of business
i'm the country, especially in the later
years, but, so long as there appears
to be a question of the acceptance
or rejection of policies advocated by
the different parties that fact is
bound to influence business to cer-
tain extent.
1t has always been the custom to
reward a president who has served
one term with a denomination, thus
permitting him to serve eight years
This has been so closely adhered to
i'm the past that it has come to be
a well understood proceeding, yet,
Notwithstanding, the, country Is regu
larry forced TO go through the strenu-
BUSINESS and turmoil OF a presidential
campaign. The advantage of elect
ing a president for six years without
hope or expectancy of reelection,
can easily he understood Six years
is sufficient time in which any ofIic-
ial may demonstrate his fitness for
the office and i'm which to carry out
the pledges of his party, 1t would
also do away with the charge now
50 often made, and generally true,
that a chief executive governs his
official acts with a view to succeeding
himself, rather than In following the
dictates of his own conscience. TN
der the new plan each president
would feel free to SO ahead and ad-
minister the duties of the office ac-
cording to his beliefs, and in line
with the reforms advocated by the
party who placed him i'm office, He
would know that no further reward
awaited him at the end of his term.
and that no official act of his could
he used to defeat him for recollection,
for the very good reason that there
would Doe no recollection. II may be
mirht result n abuse of the office
hut the very fact that such an OPP
pormuity existed would result in the
exercise of great c0re iu the selection
Of candidates. and only mon or the
highest official integrity in whom
the people had the utmost confidence.
would ne selected for the position.
There is little ground for fairness
in giving United states senators
term of six Years and combining rep
rrsentauycs ia congress 90 two years.
As it Is now. man is no sooner
elected Go the office cf representative
than hc is compelled 20 begin a cam
paipn Tor reelection Inasmuch as
ne does not enter upon his official
duties unul "a months after his
election. unless a special session of
congress IS called. he hardly becomes
familiar with his job until his term
Is over. lf his district IS one that be-
Iieyes in passing the 5obs around"
The people whom hc represents viii
.e practically without representation
.o long as that ilea prevails and the
Terms are confined 90 two years
We have entirely 500 much politics
"a this country and too many elect
ons business and our peace of mind
would prosper and improve by eliul-
mating one half Of present conditions
r #nfa vrra~H