Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-12-03


Congress- in the early stages of the new Congress-
there will be adopted resolution to submit to the
States a constitutional amendment extending the
Presidential term six years and making ineligible
for reelection any man who has held the office.
Should such an amendment be ratified by a majority
of the States and thereby become part of the Con-
stituton, its practical effect would be unmstakable
but until it is definitely proposed and duly approved
dts bearing upon the length of the Wilson adminstra-
ton of other administration must be merely
speculative and academic Certain it is that neither
the Democratic party nor any of its leaders be
held amenabe to a one-term rule until that rule is
established a law applying equally to all parties
and to all Presidents.
This is not question of individual conduct. 1t is
a question of governmental principle
1t cannot be settled by the action of one man or
by that of party 1t must be settled by the Amer
lean people.
If the people fit, through the Legislatures of
the various States to limit the term of the Presi-
dency to six years or four years or any number of
years, then the office tenure of every chief executive
will be adjusted to the new order But until that is
done, it is idle to discuss what Mr. Wilson will do
should do in respect to his particular term.
The Democratic party, to be sure, is committed to
the oneerm principle; that say it is pledged to
exert itself to place one-term amendment before
the States and to its influence in securing the
pledged indeed it could not be pledged to prescribe
single term for one President unless, through a
change in the Constitution, the limit is placed
upon all Presidents
In the platform adopted at the Baltimore conven-
tion, there is foHr,line plank which reads: -
1--WE taoOr single presidential term and to
that end urge the adoption of an amendment
to the Constitution making the President of the
United states sAeIigible for reelection and zoe
\ pledge the candidate of this conVntfon to this
princilpIe"
This is clearly declaration of principle 1t OBJ
ligates the party to strive for Limits upon the length
of time that any one man may hold the Office of the
Presidency and as is generally known, it aimed
chiefly at the third-term evil 1t is thing, how
ever for the party to commit itself to such prnci-
pie and vastly different thing for it to fetter it's
own freedom as to what shall be done four years
hence regardless of whether the one-term amend
ment has been ratified or-rejected or left pending
Such policy ould be too shortsighted and fool
ish to merit moments consideration If between
and 1916 Congress passes the proposed resolu-
ton and the amenar emit limiting the Presidential
term to six years, to any number of years, and
making President ineligible for reelection is rati-
fed, then of Mr.. Wilson could not be a candi-
date. But suppose this amendment should not have
become effective by 1916. Surely the Democratic
party would not hamper itself by purely academic
rule to which other party would be subject If
Mr. Wilson's administration proves successful and
if he having retained the country's confidence,
stands forth as Democracys logical leader for the
new campaign, he should De and would be renomi-
mated, if second term of four years still per-
Missile under the Constitution.
This entire question, as said in the outset is
that must be determined by the people as a
whole and not by any individual. 1t would avail
nothing to bar one President from seeking reelec-
tion unless all Presidents were brought within the
same rule.
The particular plank in the Democratic platform
to which we referred undoubtedly contemplates
sixyear term Prior to the Baltimore convention
Representative Henry D. Clayton, of Alabama
chairman of the House Judiciary COMMITTEE intro
duced resolution to submit a constitutional amend
ment providing for six-year Presidential term and
limiting the chief executive to single term A
similar resolution introduced in the upper house
by Senator Cummins, of Iowa Both these resolu-
tons favorably reported by the judiciary COM
mitee and are now awaiting the action of Congress
at it's December session. Clearly therefore, it was
a single term of six years which the delegates to
the Baltimore convention had in mind when they
adopted the particular plank have quoted. Ger
tain it. is that they did intend commit their
candidate to term of four years, regardless of
whether not the proposed amendment became
part of the Constitution and thereby became bind
ing upon all parties alike.
Be that as it may the essential point is that the
people of the party have an unquestionabe right to
say whether a President shall be renomnated, so
long law and political custom allow second term
Democracy will stand true to its pledge as regards
the proposed constitutional amendment, but it will
not fetter itself for future yet unknown condi
tons.
Many a poor family-yes even in Atanta-is on
the last of the Thanksgiving turkey hash.
'Financers of east have eyes on SOUTH" OF