Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-11-25

among the names Of the Democrats
given there are several of men of large
| abilities, but there is Democratic OBJ
| lection to the consideration of any
one of them for the post of leadership.
As things stand today, it can be said
with safety, perhaps, that the majority
OF the Democrats of the house do not
look upon the ways and means com
mlttee as furnishing material for a
future upbuilding leadership.
The committee next in prominence
to that on ways and means, and al
most if not quite equal to its import
ance, is the committee on appropria-
tions, of which John ]. Fitzgerald OF
I New York is chairman. Fitzgerald is
the best parliamentarian in the house
| of representatives. Once on a time,
however, the charge is, he aided
Speaker Joseph G. Cannon, Repub-
lican. in withstanding demand for a
change in the rules. At that time Mr..
Fitzgerald had the sharpest kind of
an encounter with Champ Clark. They
have been fairly good surface friends
ever since. How about the depths?
viii Wilson Seek Reelection?
With the suggestion that when Will
liam f. McCombs resigns his position
as chairman of the Democratic nation
al committee, Joseph p Tumulty, the
presidents private secretary. shall
succeed him, comes the question which
the Democratic senators and repre-
senatives are bordering. Does Presi-
dent Wilson intend to be candidate
for reelection" The Democrats also
are wondering if they are to be asked
10 give, or If on their own initiative
they must give, consideration at the
regular session to the matter of an
amendment to the constitution which
would make President Wilson ineligi-
BILE TO succeed himself.
1t was Mr.. Bryan who shaped and
inserted the one term plank in the
Democratic platform, but thus far the
secretary of state has refreshed from
making pointed remarks concerning
his handiwork and the necessity for it's
inspection and use by congress.
In this matter of the Democratic
pledge to make the single term sub
ject party matter. There are Dem
ocrats who say that SO far as Mr.. Will
son is concerned it will not be neces-
sary to make haste with a resolution
for one term amendment to the con-
stitution, because the present presi-
dent will not seek a reelection These
Democrats give Woodrow Wilson cred
it for a willingness to sink all per-
sonal ambition for the sake of what
the Democratic platform has declared
to be "a principle"
What the Platform Says.
Some of the Democrats actually say
that the president cannot ignore, with
out stultifying himself, the last few
words of the Baltimore announcement
on the subject at issue. The platform
said:
I'VE favor a single presidential Term
and to that end urge the adoption of
an amendment to the constitution,
making the president of the United
States ineligible for reelection, and
we pledge the candidate of this con-
vention to this principle"
1t is said that Mr. Bryan wrote this
part of his party's resolution and that
Intentionally he made the matter one
of principle with the man who was
elected, whoever he might be. 1t is
understood that the secretary Of state
feels that Mr.. Wilson having been
pledged in advance by his party to the
principle of one term, cannot as a
high minded man go back on prin-
ciple.
There is nothing in the plank to pre-
vent man who has been president
of the United States from asking an
other election after he has been out of
office for one term or more. The plank
reads making the president of the
United States ineligible for re-elec-
ton" If Mr.. Wilson shall accept the
principle laid down b. his party he
cannot run for the presidency in 1916,
but there is nothing TO prevent Will
liam H Taft or Theodore Roosevelt
from running for the presidency in
1916, even If an amendment to the
constitution should be adopted before
that time, making the president
the United States ineligible to re
election"
Not Anxious to Hurry 1t.
The Democrats are not over anxious
apparently to start the legislative
r,0xa-oapf oaoaSoorv 70 oo+ tbo MO
posed amendment before the states for
adoption. Those who believe sincere
ly In only the term for a president, or
at least in only one term at time"
seem to think that the principle in
volved will keep Woodrow Wilson
from the field of candidates in 1916.
The Democrats who would like to see
Mr.. Wilson succeed himself are not
anxious to press the amendment to
adoption because of their desire that
the present chief shall stay eight years
in the White House.
It is assumed here that no matter
how deeply the matter of principle
may enter into this question of a re
nomination for Mr.. Wilson, the Demo
cratic party as represented in congress
must take steps to get the constitu-
tional amendment before the states for
adoption or rejection. 1t may be that
the president in one of his messages
will take the initiative and thereby
in advance of the preliminary cam
paigning will settle once and for all
the question of his own position in
the matter.