The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1913-08-23
WHAT is A PRESIDENT

De called upon to decide whether w
should have a president for fou
years with the probability of a sec
ond term, or whether we prefer ;
president for six years who shall no
De reelected The debate is on al
ready and the earnestness manifesto,
is disturbing; why should we consid
er one or the other limit vital OF
even Important? The arguments ad
vanced seem to misrepresent the rea
character of the officiaEwe seem tC
have made of him an official never
proposed in our constitution.
-Four years Is not sufficient Il, nc
for president to carry out his poll
cies.' Why should this be expected
Of him? His business is to see that
the laws are executed and enforc II
while he is permitted to advise" da
to the making of laws. Therefore
he should not be responsible for any
policies" although he might reco IL.
mend them or propose them. The
English king is constitutional SOW
ereign, who is forbidden to have
policies" or to let 1t be known that
he is partisan; why should a presi-
dent being a constitutional executi> e
also, have preference as to national
policies
IF he might hope for reelection he
might use his patronage or even bis
authority over the department OF jus.
tice to gain supporters among the
wealthy or the Influential" But shall
we concede the impossibility of elect
ing man too honest to misuse his
office? If we elect a man who will
debauch the courts, interfere with the
administration of justice and enlist
the favor of malefactors by giving
them immunity, whose fault is it and
how can we correct this by lengthen-
ing the term?
Abuses have crapt in because of
anxiety for reelection" Also abuses
have been known because a president
attempted to dictate the choice of
his successor
Greater efficiency would result
from the continuance in the cabinet
If men who learned by experience"
Why so If president be allowed to
name the members of his cabinet ?
Very few members of the cabinet
serve four years-still fewer are con
inued in office through the second
term of the president who appointed
them, why should president keep
them for six years when he does not
keep them for four years or eight
"A president who knew himself
ineligible for second term would be
more careful of the dignity of the
office" Why does that follow? The
most dignified president we ever
had served for seven years and never
doubted his reelection; why should
he be more dignitied for six years
than for seven?
One DICTATOR reminds us that a GER
tain suit was dismissed after Harri-
man had contributed $4,000 o the
campaign fund. II the inference be
| Just. what has that to do with the
length of the term? A president who
would sell justice to secure second
term would sell justice for some
1thor consideration-whos fault Is
il that man capable of selling jus
tiee occupies the White House?
Certainly we cannot see, on tho
| other hand, that the country woulc
be ruined If we gave a president SLY
years. But continued charges weaker
the respect of the people for the law
il the term may be lightly changed
Iwhy should the people object very
strongly to the reelection of a popu
lar president who had served ST
Years? At present We see yer
strong objection to third term. ans
that is popular impression too valu
able to be cast aside: how long woUl
II take to build up an opposition to
second term of six years that wcui
lbe so strehs. Our people are not TO
obedient TO law no too respectful t
the traditions of our government an
frequent changes must lessen the rev
ference remaining to us for the ms;
buttons OF the fathers.