The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-02-05
The Judges Musings
THE SINGLE TERN QUESTION.

r ton is cancelled by suggesting an al
r tentative. AS to the military anC
. naval side of the statement, it is suf
. ficient to say that such contention
; bears as strongly against the first
term as against second or a thirc
: term. Are we exposing ourselves any
more to the fire from our own battle
ships during the second term than
during the first? Will Mr.. Wilson con-
tent himself for four years to keep
sedately within the restraints of the
constitution, and then, if reelected,
suddenly acquire a mad impulse to
lombard New York? If he uses the
power of the army and navy to es-
tablish or retain his power after a
second election, he is acting in viola
ton of the constitution; and, to assert
that he is prevented from doing so by
the single term restraint during the
first term, is merely to demonstrate
that contradictions can have their
blissful TRUSTING place in the same
mind
The patronage argument against
second or a third term is the only one
which ever had any real force. Re-
move that, and nothing remains. And
it is effectually removed by the presi
dental primary system now being
rapidly adopted by the states, and
urged by the president in the form of
a federal law. This alternative is a
decided improvement over the single
,erm doctrine-it secures to the peo-
Die the right to rule, and leaves them
rec to select their candidates, willie
he single term doctrine denies them
he right to select any candidate whom
hey have elected before.
1t is further argued by Mr.. Bryan
hat the limitation of the presidency
o single term will direct the atten-
ion of the chief executive solely to
is official duties, whereas the desire
or reelection has tendency to cause
i'm to steer his course with reference
0 the furtherance of his own ambi-
ions. But, inasmuch as the pcesi-
ent's record for the first term con-
titutes his only valid claim for 'e-
lection, the possibility of his sue
eeding himself rather serves rs
our toward efficiency than otherwise :
esides, such an argument is equally
pplicable to all public positions, and
would compel Mr.. Bryan
apply it to all senators, congress-
en-, school teachers, and even to
dgesf
We are told further that power,
ice conferred, is relinquished only
it'll reluctance; that, once enjoyed, it
fates the possessor and creates a
sire for its continuance; and, as a
ople, we must safeguard ourselves
ainst the Caesars and Napoleons of
e future. And for these reasons it
demanded that the constitution
ist be amended to protect US from
rselves. One hundred and twenty
airs of American history, under the
1stitution, during which there has
yer been suggestion of a depart
} in the direction feared by Mr..
yam, is outweighed in his judgment
the single instance of CromwelPs
umption of authority under condi-
MS of political chaos.
The dictatorship" nightmare of Mr..
yan smacks strongly of the nur-
y and the bib. We have in the
tied States about 1000 civilians to
ry soldier, and yet he trembles at
danger to which we are exposed
ause the president is commander
chief of the army and navy. He
asons" that this danger is to be
rehended, however, only in case
second or third term. He feels
ly safe during the four years of
first term. He knows that presi-
IS are to be freely trusted for just
years with the army and navy;
r that they are apt to acquire a
la for shooting holes through the
titntiOn and 70 ,..,;,, A.