The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-31
Various Term Lengths, Pro-
hibiti0n and Exemptions
Are Discussed
SESSION is FILLED
WITH LIVELY DEBATE
Presidential Recall Proposal and
Single Term Amendment Are De-
feated-Over a Dozen Amend
ments on Question Pending

1
washington. January 3o-Presdential
terms ranging all the way from two to
six years. prohibitions against second
terms and third terms; exemptions that
would affect Roosevelt Taft and Wilson
and proposals for the recall and the di-
rect popular election of Presidents, were
thrust into the Senate today in rapid
succession during the first days eonsid-
Grafton of the constitutional amendment
limiting Il President to single term OF
six years.
In session filled with lively debate.
Senator Bristow's proposal that Presi-
dent could be recalled at any regular
election, was voted down IS to 10, and
Senator Hoke Smiths amendment to
| make the single term four years instead
of six, was defeated ~ to %. over a
dozen amendments were pending when
the Senate recessed tonight and they will
| be taken UP tomorrow.
After Roosevelt
Senators Dixon and Poindexter, progress
sives; Bristow, progressive-republican
and Lodge. republican. led the fight
4
term Senator Williams democrat, pro-
posed a four year term with the privilege
of reelection once but his amendment
was so drawn as to prevent Colonel
Roosevelt from seeking another election.
| The defeat of the Bristow amendment
| for recall of the President followed a
short debate in which Senator Bristow
urged that to make the federal admins
tration properly responsive TO public de-
mand the people should have the right
| to change the President when they
changed Congress. The vote on the re-
call amendment mustered 10 votes only in
its favor. the following senators voting
for 1t:
Ashurst,g Brstow. Capp. Dixon Gronna
and Pondexter, progressives and repuo-
licans; Martine. owen, Perky and
| Thomas. democrats.
Tho eendifacies of Roosevelt, Wilson,
Brs An s,tsd srafr Figured IA the fight
throughout the day. Senator Borah said
President Taft had not used the power
OF his office for his own reelection in
1912 to any greater extent than President
Roosevelt had used 1t in 1908 for the cleo
tion of Mr., Taft.
| president Roosevelt wanted Mr.. Taft
nominated because he believed Taft would
| carry out the principles to which the
Roosevelt administration was devoted.
| said Senator Bristow. "A President who
would not use every effort to perpetuate
his policies would not be worth his
salt"
Senator Hitchcock asked If it was not
| generally believed that Roosevelt fav-
| ored President Taft's nomination In 1903
so that he himself might be can1i-
date in 1912.
Il know the senator himself does not
] entertain such thought retorted Sena-
tor Borah so 7 feel free to say that
such an idea is the product of diseased
mind"
Destructive to Principles
Senator Dixons charge that single six
year terms was desired chiefly by ambi-
tious aspirants for the presidency and
the declaration of Senators Bristow and
Poindexter that this proposed limitation
would be destructive OF American prin-
! ciples Of government, make up the bur-
den of the progressive fight against the
resolution
Senator Bristow declared the people
should be free to choose their own Presi-
dent and to re-eleet a, President when
Lthey believed II wise. He declared the
constitution should include a recall pro-
| vision SO that when Congress Is over
thrown because an administration is not
satisfactory, the people also could recall
| the President and establish a new ad-
ministration throughout
| The Senate took up the Works resou-
| ton proposing the amendment under
| agreement to vote before the close of the
legislative day. Senator Paynter. demo-
crat offered a provision that when the
| amendment should be ratified. the Presi
dent then in office should be entitled to
a six year term. lie deceived no ques-
tion should be left open as to whether
it applied TO President Wilson.
Wilson'S Election
wasn't II your understanding that Mr..
| Wilson was elected for a four year term?'
| Senator Dixon asked.
| Senator Paynter retorted that the
amendment should be made so. that It
would take effect Immediately notwlth-
| standing who might be in office.
Senator DiXons answer was TO sug-
gest that it be so changed that 1t would
F! not apply to President-elect Woodrow
Wilson He declared no amendment
| should be adopted to the constitution
which would prohibit the people Of
the United States from exercising their
own Judgment as 10 whether a Pres
lident should be reelected.
1--WE are offering something that is
not demanded by the people, except
that as that demands follows from
some personal ambitions said SEN
ator Dixon.
| Are you democratic senators going
to harass President Wilson by declar-
ing tnat no matter how good his ad :
|
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