Arizona republican., 1912-05-14
The Third Term

It must be apparent to every think ing man and woman that the Ameri- can people without regard 10 party utilization. are irrevocably opposed to the third term idea.
 That opposition had it's inception with the renunciation of third term hy George Washington in 1797, when that great man pointed out the dan ger of establishing such a precedent.
 It was strengthened in 1909 when Thomas Jefferson followed the ex- ample of the first great president, and declared that the breaking of the rule would mean eventually the es- tablishment of a hereditary reigning dynasty. It was accentuated when Andrew Jackson took the same course: and when William Mckinley, at the beginning of his second term, took occasion to settle once and for all the matter, so far as he was con cerned. Although there has never been any formal legislative action upon this point the opposition to a third presidential term is as firmly implanted in the minds and hearts o1 the American people as is any line or section of the constitution itself. II is not a written law but it is just as binding as though it were.
 Now, all this is said without ref erence to Theodore Roosevelt Ii happens to fit the present case and that is all But it is worth while pointing out the danger of establish ing. or rather of attempting to es- tablish. a precedent such as this.
 There are some very sincere people who believe the nomination of Theo- dore Roosevelt at this time is g necessary thing But what a com mentary that is on the republican party and on the American people themselves.
 If the republican party is so pool in statesmen that there is just one man among the more than 8.000,O 900 oi which that party is made up who is fit for the presidency, then it is about time a receiver be appointed and the affairs Of the republican party bt wound up.
 And if there is just one man il America capable of filling acceptably the office. then we are in worse case than anybody had ever supposed.
 The truth is there are a dozer good men-scores. in fact-in the re publican party, who could fill the of flee of president acceptably an( creditably.
 If both Theodore Roosevelt ant President Taft were to die tomorrow there would be no trouble about find ing a perfectly available man fol the presidency.
 There is not the slightest reason why any man should be called upor to serve third term
 It happens. however. under all tn traditions of the republican party and the democratic party, too, fO that matter-that President Taft i entitled to the nomination at Chicago He is entitled to it because he ha served his party and his country ac ceptably in the past four years. H is entitled to it because he has serve' his party and his country acceptabl. in the past four years. He is entitle' 10 it because he has been honest faithful, patient, upright, courageous and patriotic. He has been a goo president and a good man. He ha conserved the best traditions of tn republican party and of America patriotism The republican part cannot afford to defeat man Ek that.
 The good of the party and the goo of the country demand the nominatio of MT. Taft. He is entitled to a sec ond term.
 Neither the good of the party ID the good of the country demands tn nomination of any man for thir term. In fact both are opposed to i The day for the third term has nc ~ yet arrived in America The chance are it never will arrive.
 A good many people say fear ( the third term is a bogy. But ho7 can anybody know? If man de mands and secures a third term, wh