El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-06-15
ND PRESIDENT
HAS SERVED
z YEARS
Washington, Jefferson and
Jackson Against It; Has
Always Been a Ghost.
HISTORY ON SUBJECT
NOW IN FORE FRONT


Republican political giants meet in
Chicago on tuesday to Wrestle through
the roll call for the selection Of a IA
vored son TO head the Republican party
in its fight for the presidency, there
is one thing that is sure TO play
large and important part in their u
innate decision, and that IS third term
precedent and prejudice -COnOrJS OF
: La Toilette and Taft viii rise TO the
occasion and hurl their OratOrlcal
brOadsides against this gross VIOLA
ton OF an Unwritten law; this defama-
ton Of Washington s precedent. Ana
the heuchmen of Mr.. Roosevelt, also
arising TO the occasion, Will refute
these brOadsides with quotations from
the sacred constitution itself and even
from the words Of Gen Washington
Third Term Ghost Not New.
The third term ghost, like Marley's
immortal shade, IS no new character TO
Americans Periodically politicians
have oiled its clanking chains and led
1t forth to exhibit TO the voters Four
of these occasions arose toward the
end of the second terms of presidents
Washington, jefferson, Jackson and
Grant, and in all o. them, with the eN- !
Ception OF Grant, the third tel was I
-epudia ted-Grant made a bid for d /
third nomination on the Republican I
ticket and was beaten in 1850.
The arguments for and against sue +
cessive" terms at the white house, !
however, date back to the days OF the I
Fl aiming Of the constitution, for even 4
then the DOGGY of a dictator haunted 4
some, while others held that successlo ion /
TO the office of the chief executive /
should not be denied wise and good /
president who shall be needed by the /
people in time OF national danger"
First Discussion of Subject.
The first discussion OF the subject
that has been officially recorded, was
that which took place in Philadelphia
at the constitutional convention Here
Randolph, delegate from
Virginia, first raised the question OF a
practical Dictatorship through the sub
mission of a resolution providing that
the president should be elected for six
years and should be ineligible for re-
election This resolution was tenia-
lively adopted, but was later replaced I
by the resolution Of Charles Pinckneys
Fl ION South Carolina, which provided
and said nothing about his eligibility
fer reelection. This was the reSOlu-
ton finally incorporated in the cOnsu-
tuition.
The next matter that will be con-
sidered by the pro and anti-third term
men on Tuesday will be administration
II Gen George Washington, the faith
er of his country"
Didn't Want Second Term.
Washington was tired Of the arduOuS
1utieS Of chief executive even before
lis first term elapsed ana announce1'l
Trough correspondence and converse
IONS, that he would not be a CaEdI-
late for even a second election
At that time Thomas jefferson ex-
With the views Of Gen Washington SEd
placed himself on record against 5ae
eligibility OF a president for cleo
ion Popular opinion and pressing pO-
itical reasons, however, prevailed and
Washington accepted second term at
he white house
Would Not Consider Third Term.
At the close Of his second term. Gen. {
Washington steadfasly refused to J
consider third and retired to private
ife, without, however, placing himself
Quarely on record as against a third !
ERIN for president save by his physt-
al action. In fact, he left a lOOphOle I
or the present day advocates OF a
bird term for the president by saying Z
hat he could see no propriety IN pre- I
luding ourselves from the services OF {
ny man who, on some great emergen-
y shall be deemed universally most {
apable of serving the public De- J
pite this assertion congress, taking [
is physical action as proof OF his /
esire, passed a resolution expressing
n earnest wish that his example might I
e guide to his successors. [
jefferson Also Refused. /
Jefferson himself was the next to 7
e faced with the necessity Of deciding [
pom the third term question. He said f
hat Should a president consent to ! I
e a candidate for a third election, I
rust he will be rejected on this dem .
nstratiOn OF ambitious views"
Jackson Opposed 1t.
Andrew Jackson was the third presi-
ent to meet the third term ghost and
e laid it effectually before congress q
rging the passage of a law definitely q
0rbidding a third term )
There was no attempt to break this b
1le till near the end Of president Il
rants second term, and that attempt K
as frustrated by a nearly unanimous q
ote Of the house to the effect that to
o so would be '-fTaught with peril to q
1r free institutions" Four years =
ter. however, the third term prOpa- o
anda for Grant was revived, his back :
rs claiming that the inhibition was a
lly against a third consecutive term. I h
is defeat at the Republican national / II
invention is a matter OF history. I u
Through all this mass Of testimony 2,
n the subject Of a tenor Of the white [ r.
ouses extending over more than two OF
ears, Will the Republican factions II
ample in their battle royal for NOM Il
Zee on Tuesday And should Roosevelt |
lumph or should the Republican M b,
line be split in twain, with the gal III
mt colonel leading one branch and | fC
r Taft or some other Republican
'mmanding the other. the third term B
most VIII spend a busy season till the pi
)ters in November either lay il away / tn
n use on some future occasion or ii
spel 1t forever by overriding It's
emlng admOnitiOn- m
TRECvVDFRG III F-T-rrr7T FOR "