Evening journal., 1916-04-28

From the Democratic Text Book OF
1912, prepared under the direction of
Mr. William f. McCombs and widely
circulated by him among the voters
OF the United States. we extract this
campaign pledge. or promise, promi-
nently displayed on page IA:
TERN OF PRESIDENT.
democratic Platform.
I'VE favor a single Presidential
term, and to that end we urge the
adoption of an amendment TO the Con-
stitution making the President Of the
United States ineligible for re-elec-
tion. and we pledge the candidate of
this convention to this principle"
The candidate pledged to the single
term principle by the Baltimore con-
vention and pledged again by Mr..
McComhs' committee when il exhibit
ed the foregoing declaration as rea-
son for voting for him was Governor
Woodrow Wilson OF New Jersey. Mr..
McCombs had perhaps done more than
any other friend of Dr. Wilson's with
the possible exception of Colonel
George Harvey and Ex-senator James
Smith. Jr) TO prepare the way for his
nomination on this single term plat
form. When the campaign opened Mr..
McCOmbs, in his dual capacity as
chairman Of both the Democratic Ma
tional Committee and the Democratic
Campaign Committee, at once took un-
disputed first place among the pro-
moters OF Dr.. Wilson's political for
tunes. Mr.. Mckinley scarcely owed
more to Mark Hanna.
In asking his fellow citizens TO vote
for Woodrow Wilson as candidate
pledged TO the one term principle by
the platform of his party, Mr. viii
liam +. McCOmbs took pains to make
it clear to everybody that the candi-
date accepted the platform. He caused
to he printed on page 343 of the Cam
palgn Text Book this passage from
DR. Wilson's speech OF acceptance:
What is the meaning of our plat
form, and what is our responsibility
under IT,? What are our duty and our
purpose? Tho platform is meant to
'show that we know what the nation is
thinking about. what it is most con-
cerned about, what il wishes correct
ed, and what it desires to see attempt
ed that is new and constructive and
intended for its long future. But for
us il is a very practical document. We
are not about to ask the people of the
United States TO adopt our platform; (;
we are about to ask them to entrust
us with Office and power and the guild
anco of their affairs. They will wish
to know what sort of men we are, and
OF what definite purpose: what trans
lation of action and of policy we in
tend TO give to the general terms Of
the platform which the convention at
Baltimore put forth. should we be
elected"
Mr.. McCombs went further and drew
a Ntriking contrast between Woodrow
Wilson, pledged to the principle of a
single term and to be depended upon
to respect the platform and keep the
pledge if elected. and Theodore Roose-
velt one Of his competitors for the
votes of the people On pages 30i and
3O5 OF the Text Book Mr.. McCombs
exhibited Colonel Roosevelt as a per-
son willing To feed his own ambition
even by the violation OF "a distinct
pledge not to be candidate again:
THAT FAMOUS PLEDGE.
"On March 4, next, I shall have
served three and one-half years, CON
stituting my first term The wise
custom which limits the President to
two terms regards the substance and
not the form. and under no circum-
stances will be a candidate for or ac-
cent another nomination
ITO newspaper correspondents who
asked him if he might not be a candi-
date in 1912, Theodore Roosevelt, with
his characteristic emphasis. replied