The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-10
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1912
TERMS.

SENATOR WORKS, IN mis- AddreSS IN
support OF tho resolution for an
amendment increasing the length Of
the presidential term to six years,
aud limiting the incumbent to one
term, took occasion to shy a few
bricks IN the general direction Of Col
enel Roosevelt. He thought that he
saw In the support given Roosevelt
by MIR. Perkins an illustration of what
the country may expect at any time
of a president who wishes 10 be re-
elected, namely. a desire on the part
great interests, and a Willingness on
the part of those interests TO support
u candidate in consideration of ccr-
tain favors TO he granted in case that
candidate is elected.
The references Of the California
senator to Roosevelt n his late can.
A,daey do not appear to apply very
wcl1 t o the question of limiting the
president to one term. long or short.
Roosevelt was a candidate for office.
Vt is true, hut he was not president.
n he .had controN OF not 4 single
office. nor OF a single piece Of lcgisla-
WI IlC oNSdRlcU w ]" FOSINiVii
IN the campaign that would have been
occupied by any either who had
never entered the White House.
Let us look back IL few years and
see what evidence there is that a pres
ident is able. hy reason Of his posi-
ton. and through his control Of the
machinery Of government to perpetu-
ate himself in Office. OIL TO secure ven
a second term. since the wal we
have had Grant. who served two erms
and failed in his effort to get a third.
Hayes was O renominated. Garfield
died in office. and Arthur. the vice
renominated. Cleveland was renomi-
mated and defeated. Harrison was re-
nominated. and defeated. though pref.
ty liberal use was made Of the organ
lied Office holders in his behalf. Clcve-
land. at the close of his second term.
was not a candidate for office. Nc
Kinley was renominatcd and re-elcct-
ed, and he succeeded on his record
as an official and his popularity AS
a man. Roosevelt was renominatcd
and reelected. but il certainly cannot
he said that the aid of an official ma
chine was necessary to that result. for
no man was yer moro popular with
tho American people than was Roose-
Welt at the close of his first term. Taft
was renominated and not reelected.
Notwithstanding any control that he
may have. had Of an official machine.
OF all the presidents since the war.
therefore. but two. Mckinley and
Roosevelt. have served or been elected
to serve q second term. with the en-
ception Of Cleveland. whose SECOND
term did not follow his first. and who
in his second campaign. had no moro
control. over oficialdorn than had any
other citizen.
Apparently. therefore. the Ameri-
can people do not need to- tie their
selves from setting up a dictatorship
at Washington. The only instance
that We have had during the years
mentioned of a president using the
prestige of his Office to secure the cleo
ton as president Of = man who would
not otherwise have been elected. and
using ths, Influence successfully. is
found in the election Of 1905, when
President Roosevelt brought about the
nomination and election of his secre-
tary of war, Mr.. Taft. who was gen.
orally recognized as Il clean and able
man. Wi who would not have been
recognized as presidential timber had
not Roosevelt himself successfully
urged Taft as his OWL successor. And
against the carrying put Of such 2
program, no congressional resolution
or constitutional provision can afford
the slightest protection. If II is pos.
sible for 4 president now to r~e-eelct
himself against the wishes Of the peo-
pie. and thus to establish q dictator
ship in his own name II would be
equally possible for him. under the
proposed single term arrangement. to
elect a dummy and himself continue
to lie the government. 1t has been
shown that the people have the sit
uatior in their own hands. n that
they esn and will decide as the sit
uations ariEc from time to time
whether they want a particular mar
for president or not. be it for a first,
a second. or n other term.