The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-27
THE SIX-YEAR TERM.

| mere dppeatS 10 ne u
to press the proposed Constitutions
amendment which would fix the Presi
Dental term at six years and forbid
the reelection of any man who had
served in the Presidential office There
is no doubt but that the Roosevelt at
titude in the present campaign is large.
" responsible for the eager interest
with which this Constitutional amend
ment is welcomed. for it is seen that
Roosevelt will never be satisfied no
matter how many terms lie has, but
will always want to have the Office
again. A man who would break down
| the anti-third term tradition would
stob at nothing save the absolute pro-
hihition of the Constitution. If indeed
he would be willing to stop even at
that.
But the Roosevelt candidacy this
wear is an absolute menace, not only
TO the existence of the Republican
psrtv. but TO the Republic itself. He
has forced a degradation of politics
never before known in this country.
Bv his scaudalous attacks upon Presi-
dent Taft he has forced the President
out into the open TO defend himself
and TO show up tue evil deeds of Roose'
welt while he was President, and the
falsitv of the charges that Roosevelt
is making. 1t is not forgotten either,
that the use of the patronage in behalf
of the President for his denomination
which Roosevelt so viciousy denounces
now. was carried to a greater extent
President than it had ever been before
or since bv any occupant of the White
House. And so Col. Roosevelt has con-
vinced the people of this country that
If they would be protected from the
sort of vicious campaigning that he is
making this year. thev must make for
mer Presidents Ineligible to the
chair. For this reason,
the proposed siX-yesr term with incl
igibility for reelection, is receiving a |
favor never before accorded to a like
in this country.
Another evidence of the disgust of
the people at the attempt to break |
down the anti third term tradition has
taken form in st. Louis, as reported by
the Times of that city, An anti-third |
.crm pledge has been formulated, and |
s being generally signed by Repub-
leans of st, Louis, reading as follows:
Whereas, We firmly believe that "the
Tise custom which limits the PresI-
lent TO two terms regards the substance
md not the form" and means that no
person should hold that high office for
more than two terms. whether such
erms are consecutive or not; and,
Whereas. Theodore Roosevelt. In vio-
alton of said custom, IN violation Of his
ormer declarations and promises. seeks
W means heretofore unprecedented to
,ecome the nominee OF tho Republican
'arty for the Presidency;
Now. therefore, we the undersigned.
United States OF America, hereby pledge
ourselves that, even I'm case ne would
become such nominee. we will not support
lin, but use such honorable means as
yc deem most effective to defeat his
lection
It is to be noted that Republicans
'lone are asked to sign this pledge.
The movement, as explained, is neither
negotiated nor promoted by supporters
# President Taft, but by Republicans
Who took an active interest in the anti
bird term campaign of 1880. The
Times report Of this pledge has been
igned by several hundreds of lifelong
republicans, and it is expected that it
Will be signed by many thousands in
Missouri and elsewhere throughout the
country before the day of the Presiden.
'ial election. It Is menace that Roose-
velt would have to face in the extreme
" unlikely case of his nomination, but
4 menace nevertheless which ought to
cause him to pause and reflect upon the
of his dirty campaign.