The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-31
Senate Does Not Take
Kindly to BristOw's
Proposal.
LIV Ell Y DEBATE
FEATURE OF DAY
Hoke Smiths Single Four Year
Term Not Approved, and
More Than Dozen Sugges-
tons Now Are Pending for
Action To-Day-Candi-
dates Figure in Fight.

Washington. January 90 Ircsiden-
tial terms ranging all the way from Two
10 SIX years prohibitions against second
terms and third terms, exemptions tnat
would affect Roosevelt, TAFT ana " llsoh
and proposals for the recall ana the
direct popular election OF Presidents.
were thrust into the Senate to-day IN
"a Did succession during the hrst day
consideration Of the constitutions
amendment limiting the President TO
single term Of six years.
In a session filled with lively debate.
Senator Bristows proposal that d
President could be recalled at any
regular election was voted down. D
to l. and Senator HOke Smiths amend
ment TO make the single term four years
instead OF six was defeated = L" %
over a dozen amendments were pend
ing when the Senate recessed tonight
and they will be taken up tomorrow
Lead Fight Against 1t.
Senators Dixon and Poincexter. Pro
gressivee Brietow. Prog ressive- Repub-
lican. and Lodge. Republican. led the
hgh. against restriction OF the pre-
sidential term. Senator Williams. Dem
ocrat. proposed a four-year term with
the privilege Of reelection once but ms
amendment was so drawn as 20 prevent
Colonel Roosevelt from seeking another
election.
The defeat Of the Bristov amend
rnent for recall OF the President followed
a short debate in which Senator Bristow
urged that 70 make the Federal ad-
Ininlstration properly responsive !"
public demand the people should nave
the night TO change the Preslcent
when they change Congress Inc vote
on the recall amendment mustered zen
votes only in its favor. the following
Senators voting for IT
BristOw. Ciapp. Dixon. Gronna "ho
Poindexter. Progressives and Repub-
Iicans: MARITIME. Owen, Perky, AshursI
and Thomas. Democrats 49,,
The candidates. Of Roosevelt, VII
son. Bryan and Taft figured IN the
fght throughout the day la'oi
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 hau hseo
II in 1879 for the election of Mr. iaft-
President Roosevelt wanted MI.
Taft nominated because he beileVed
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 ~oulo
not be worth MS salt.
Senator Hitchcock asked II 4 was
no. generally believed" that Roose-
volt favored President Taft's nomIna-
ton IN 1905 20 that he himself might De
a candidate in 1912
Product of Diseased Mind
Il know the Senator himself does not
entertain such thought, retor'eu
Senator Borah. 50 l feel free 10 say
that such an idea - the product OF
diseased mind.
Senator Dixon's charge that d single
six-vear term was desired chiefly by
am bilious as pirants for the presidency
and the declaration of Senators Bristc~
and Poindexter that this proposed limi-
tation would be destructive OF American
principles OF government. made up the
burden Of the Progressive fight against
the resolution
Senator Bristow declared the people
should be free 10 choose their own Presi-
dent and 20 re-elect a President when
they believed IL wise. He declared The
Constitution should contain a recall
provision so that II Congress - over
thrown because an administration ~
not satisfactory. the people also could
recall the President and establish new
administration throughout