The Hattiesburg news., 1916-01-15

President Declares That He viii Re
sort to Nothing But Publie's opin
lon--PeopIe Might Be Cheated BY
Further Limitation, as Four Years
Would Ee Too Long for Some Execu.
tives, and Too Short for Another
with Program.
Washington, Jan. 15-Efforts by the
leaders of the Democratic party to OBJ
cain from President Wilson some ex-
preston regarding his own views con-
cerning the question of whether he
will be a candidate for denomination
this summer, have met with no success
other than to elicit the assurance that
| the President is of the same mind re-
gaiding presidential SUGGESTIONS today
as he was on Feb. 5, 1918, twenty-seven
days before he was inaugurated
| The Democratic leaders, certain, al
Imost to man, that Woodrow Wilson
will be their next standard-bearer, un-
less, of course, he remove himself vol
luntarily from the field, are not at all
sanguine six months ahead OF their
lconvention that his denomination viii
be accomplished without disturbing
ripple or two.
They are the more convinced of this
by the recent activities of Mr.. Bryan
three times nominated for the presi-
Idency and three times defeated
which points to break in the Wilson
franks if the Nebraska statesman has
not lost his influence.
In February, 1913, Mr.. Wilson ad-
dressed letter to A. Mitchell Palmer
then vice chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, commenting on
. the joint resolution then before Con-
gress amending the federal constitution
by providing for a single term of six
years for President. This letter
(which has never before been published
reflects the views of the President now
as certainly as ON the day it was writ
ten when he was still Governor OF
, New Jersey. 1t is as. follows
MY Dear Palmer: Thank you
warmly for your letter of Feb. 3. i
was characteristically considerate o.
you to ask my views with regard tc
the joint resolution which has jus
come over from the House to the Sen
ate with regard to the presidential
term.
Il have not hitherto said anything
about this question, because had no
observed that there was any evidenc
that the public was very much intel
ested in it. must have been mis-
taken in this, else the Senate woul'
hardly have acted so promptly upon il
Spoke Without Reserve.
at is matter which concerns tn
), character and conduct of the great o
fee upon the duties of which ar
about to enter. feel, therefore, tina
8 in the present circumstances shoul
not be acting consistently with m
q ideals with regard to the rule of el
ltire frankness and plain speaking ths
/. ought to exist between public ser
. ants and the public whom they serv
:. If | did not speak out about II witho,
Preserve of any kind, and witho'
!, thought Of the personal embarras
70 msnt.
:. 'The question is simply this: Sha
our Presidents be free, so far as II
law is concerned, to seek a secor
- term Of four years, or shall they
limited by constitutional amendmel
to a single term of four years, or to
single term extended to six years?
:. II can approach the question from
= perfectly impersonal point Of view. b
- cause shall most cheerfully abide
the judgment OF my party and the pu
lie as to whether | shall be a cant
date for the presidency again in 19l
~ / absolutely pledge myself to resort
on nothing but public opinion to deci
no that question.
a. sThe President ought to be abs
(Continued on Page Four.)
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