Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-04
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1918.
SINGLE TERM FOR PRESIDENT.

SINGLE TERM FOR PRESIDENT.
Why is it that the proposal to limit
the presidential tenure to a single
term with ineligibility for reelection
is causing such a stir in the Bull
Moose camp? Surely this is reform
with the bark on and tha5 is what
the Bull Moosers have been shouting
for. Yet the very suggestion Of linn
iting presidential tenure brings fu-
rious opposition from the apostles OF
the new order. There is only one
plausible reason for this opposition
and that is the effect such a change
would have on the continuous presi-
dental strivings of Theodore Roose-
welt. 1t would effectually put r. r.
out of the running.
The Bull Moose newspapers are re-
sorting to their usual tactics Of mis-
representation in this matterA They
argue that the mythical interests
want a single term president because
they could handle such a man OF
course, this is rubbish. If the Inter
ests" have any opinion about the mat
ter it has not bee neXpressed. Ger
tainlv Wall Street has taken no part
in the argument. If Roosevelt were
out of the way it is doubtful if there
would be no appreciable opposition to
this SAM and sensible proposal. The
suggestion itself is not new. 1t was
made wher. the constitution was
formed and it has been renewed every
few years since. Some Of our great.
est statesmen Of all political parties
were in favor of a single presidential
term, and for reasons to which all
good citizens could subscribe. The
suggestion does not come now as any.
thing novel or revolutionary.
There are many advantages in the
one-term presidential tenure that will
appeal strongly to anyone not natural.
ly obstinate or inconceivably ignorant.
If a president were elected for a six.
year term with ineligibility for re.
election he would be relieved Of all
concern and anxiety regarding a win.
dication." Under the present system
a PRESIDENT cannot escape the pres.
sure Of political exigencies. From the
day of his first Inauguration he is in.
ferentially a candidate for a second
term. Not that all of our presidents
really wanted a second term, but the
custom Of giving a second term to a
president who has made good" al.
most o%bligates all presidents as a mat.
ter of personal pride to seek this "vin-
dication." There is little doubt that
President Taft would have been we'll
satisfied to have served a single term
and let it go at that. Custom forced
him to become a candidate a second
time.
The president who faced a single
term of six years would be free from
all personal obligations. to take the
leadership in the activities Of his
party. He would have the satisfying
sense Of being president for the maxi
mum term without any risk of suffer
ing the humiliation Of a failure to be
reelected. He would know just how
long he could serve and this knowl.
edge would relieve him Of any obi.
cation to devote his time to cam.
paigning in his own behalf. A single
term would mean full emancipation
from a host of worries and excite
ments that distract the public Official
who seeks reelection. In fact, every.
thing favors the single term theory ex-
cert in the respect that the Roosevelt
partisans would regard such a change
as a rebuke and a a to the ambi.
tons of the former president, which
in fact it necessarily would be.