Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-01-31
ROOT FAVORS MARCH, 1917
BUT FRIENDS OF WILSON, PROTEST
AGAINST A CHANGE IN TEN
URE AT THAT DATE
ROOSEVELT and TAFT men
THEY ALSO ARE ANXIOUS NOT TO
HAVE PRESIDENTS lNcuM-
RENcY CUT TOO SOON

Washington, Jan. 3l.-Wnen lne
senate took up the single presidential
term BILL Senator Roots amendment
to make the constitutional amendments
take effect March 4, 1917, was de-
feated on a viva yoce vote, but, by
demanding a roll call. he got it before
the senate again for further consider.
alton. AS a substitute Senator Hitch
cock proposed an amendment to let
Wilson, Roosevelt or Taft have one
six year term under the new amend
ment,
when we except these persons
from its operations, we are making it
entirely personal declared Senator
Borah. we might as well name
these three men in the amendment
as being exempt from its provisions.
We practically would be amending the
constitution fol their convenience"
senator paynter then proposed an
amendment TO make the six year term
take effect in 1921. Senator Works,
4GsAvf 81 Tie q. z siiiaT resolution eIp.
dorsed Senator Hitchcoclx's plan. Sen
ator Clapp, progressive, took empha-
tic exception to this position.
1T is a reflection upon the senate
itself" he declared, "in our saying
to the country that a great principle
cannot pass this body unless three
great partisan leaders are recognized
and cared for in the legislation
Il am not in favor of limitation Of
the right Of the people to choose their
own executives" continued Senator
Clapp, ''but if such principle is to
be established, l regard it as trlfling
with the fundamental principles Of
government to recognize the personal
equation and exempt three gentlemen
from the operation Of the constitution
al amendment. Once of those gentle
men l hold in close friendship; yet
in the interest Of that man would
not like to see a new principle put
into effect from the operation OF
which he would be exempt II this
change in our constitution is wise,
and if tsis limitation is to be adopted,
let us rise to the occasion and apply
it to every man."
Senator Sutherland urged the adop-
ton Of the Root amendment setting
March 4, 1917, as the date, This
brought another protest from the pro
gressive ranks, Senator Poindexter
declaring that if there was any dan
ger Of a man "perpetuating himself
in office" because Of his ability and
popularity" as the frienas Of the sin.
gle term claimed. that danger should
be met by making the resolution i'm
mediately effective.
Senator Cummins favored and SEN
ator Lodge opposed the exemptions
for Wilson, Roosevelt and TAFT.
4 did not believe anyone wound
insist that this legislation was aimed
at Colonel roosevelt declared Sen
ator Cummins today in advocating
the Works single tax presidential
term amendment in the senate, "but
it has been very busily urged
throughout the United States lately
that we are legislatins to make
Roosevelt Ineligible. There is no
truth in such statements and know
they must be abhorent % Colonel
Roosevelt.
The debate centered about the dec
laration by Senator Williams, demo-
crat that unless such amendmeu-s Is
were adopted as to make Roosevelt,
nd Wilson elirible for another
term the friends Of Roosevelt and
others might oppose ratiflcatlon OF
tie constitutional amendment By the
states
Whatever mlRhl be The motives
1t those #ho oppose ihe amend.