The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-01
"A SINGLE SIX-YEAR
PRESIDENTIAL TERN
FAVORED BY SENATE
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an amendment by Senator Root proposed
to make the single term take effect after
March A. 1917. An amendment offered by
Senator Clark, democrat, of Arkansas,
proposed that the new constitutional
amendment should not effect the Presi-
cent in office when adopted any former
President. This would have exempted
Wilson and Roosevelt.
Making Issue Personal
When the Senate took up the subject
Senator Roots amendment to make the
constitutional amendment effective
March 4, 1917. was defeated on a Viva
voce vote, but by demanding a roll call
he got it before the Senate again for fur
ther consideration. As a substitute Sen
ator Hitchcock proposed an amendment
to let Wilson. Roosevelt and Taft have
one six year term under the new amend
snent. "When we except these persons
from its operations we are making ii en-
tirely personal declared Senator Borah.
1--WE would practically be amending the
constitution for their convenience"
Senator Paynter then offered an
amendment. Senator Works, author of
the original resolution, indorsed Sem
Ator Hitchcock's plan. Senator Clapp,
progressive, took emphatic exception
TO his position. ut is reflection upon
the Senate itself" he declared, "in our
saying to the country that a great
principle cannot pass this body unless
three great partisan leaders are rec
ognized and cared for in the legisla-
tion. II this change in our constitution
is wise and this limitation is to be
adopted, let us lise to the occasion
and apply it to every man."
Senator Sutherland urged adoption of
tho Root amendment. setting March a.
1917, as the date. This brought pro-
test from Senator PoindeXter, progress
sive,. who declared that If there was
any danger of a man perpetuating him
self in office because of his ability Ind
popularity as the friends of the single
term claimed that danger should be
met by making the resolution imme-
diately effective. Senator Cummins fa-
yored and Senator Lodge opposed the
exemptions for Wilson, Roosevelt and
Taft.
Senator Williams, democrat, declared
that the single term proposal would
probably be defeated by the states un-
less Colonels Roosevelt was exempted
from its provisions.
~"Whatever might be the motives of
those who oppose the amendment,' said
Senator Williams, they will be able
to say to the people, They are after
one mans scalp; he received more than
100000 votes of the American people,
and now they are trying to make him
Ineligible +,F
1T would be unwise for those who
favor this amendment to handicap
themselves with the active antagonism
of those who could make this point
against it," he concluded
Proposal Is Defeated =
The proposal 10 exempt Roosevelt,
Taft and Wilson suffered defeat In the
voting down of the Hitchcock and Root
amendments. The Senate then took up
the McCumber amendment which pros
posed a limitation to two four-year
terms. with the Qualifying provision
that mo person Nho has served as
President by succession for the major
fraction of one term shall be eligible
to hold more than enc fun term"
eSenator Borah declared this provision
was the ''unwritten law" that no Pres
,ident should serve more than two
terms and that it was not necessary
to put that in the constitution.
Senator Crawford declared no limita-
tion should be put upon the power of
the people to elect President again,
and he opposed both the McCumber
amendment and the original plan for
a single six-year term.
He insisted that even though Pres
ident-elect Wilson's power to renom-
would be nothing to prevent his using
the full influence of his office to secure
the nomination and election of some
one who had given him great help in
securing the election this year
The McCumber amendment was ult-
mately defeated By a vote of 81 to 3,
Senator'S McCumber Penrose and Will
liams voting for Il.
The success of Napoleon and Caesar In
stablishing relationships gave the Sen
ate a busy half hour of debate, Senator
Williams insisting that the United States
might confront such situation in the
service We're limited.
'Why talk about Caesar and Napo-
leon finally interrupted Senator Owen.
do you think that the action of the peo-
pie in those days when there was no tele-
graph. no telephone. no railroads and no
modern intelligence ought to ne used in
this debate as a guide to our actions?"
Direct Vote Suggested
Senator Owen presented his amendment
providing for direct popular vote On
President and vice president, and abol-
ishing the present electoral college,
through which the presidential vote of the
states is cast
some day precipitate crisis and revolu-
tho amendment because OF the great
power of personal action lodged in each
presidential election
Senator Cummins declared ne favored
the policy of direct vote, but he, did not
favor the pending owen amendment,