The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-12

their plans for 1915 unless he intend
ed TO run again. The Likelihood u
that the President win continue to
remain silent as to the question, ieav-
ling IL for the party to ait In state con-
ventions and primaries.
Bryan 20 Oppose Him.
The understanding here now II tna'
the President will encounter the op'
position of Bryan in his effort to be
renominated, notwithstanding the
Bryan letter. Mr.. Bryan feels tnal
there has been no serious erort or
the Presidents part, to live up 10 tut
spirit of the one-term plank. ana ne
will attack him on that score.
The Presidents letter :. was con-
strued by many to mean that he would
not be a candidate again unless he
felt that his administration had beer
endorsed by his party and large part
of the public: in other words, unless
he felt he could be reelected.
Members of Congress were greatly
interested in the Presidents letter to
Mitchell Palmer. and 1t will be made
the basis of several debates.
Some features of it will be singled
our for special comment. Many Re-
publicans Will want to know what the
President meant when he wrote:
Il should not be acting consistent
ly with my ideals with regard to the
rule of entire fr3nkness and plain
speaking that ought 60 exist between
public servants, and the public whom
they serve, II / did not speak out
about it (the single-term plank) with
out reserve OF any kind
Republicans pointed out that al
though this was written almost three
years ago, not only did 1t never reach
the public till now, that the President
has not publicly mentioned the single
term plank, or single-term legislation
since he has been in the White House.
Furthermore. it is known that the
President on several occasions in the
last three years refused to consent
to the publication of the letter.
Text of Letter.
Here Is President Wilson'S letter to
sl- Representative Palmer:
my Dear Mr.. Palmer:
Thank you warmly for your let
ter of February 3. II was character
isticaIIy considerable Of you to ask my
views with regard to the joint reso-
luton which has just come over from
the House to the Senate, with regard
to the presidential term.
~ have not hitherto said anything
about this question. because I had not
pUS&TfFu that Was 0hy
that the public was very much inter-
ested in IL. / must have been mistaken
In this. else, the Senate would hardly
have acted so promptly upon it.
TT is a matter which concerns the
character and conduct of the great Of
flee upon the duties Of which / am
about to enter. | feel. therefore, that
in the present circumstances i should
not be acting consistently with my
ideals with regard to the rule of en-
tire frankness and plain speaking that
ought to exist between public SER
wants and the public whom they serve.
IL did not speak out about IL with
out reserve of any kind. and without
thought OF the personal embarrass-
ment.
The question Is simply this; Shall
our presidents he free, so far as the
law Is concerned TO seek a second
term of four years. or shall they be
limited by constitutional amendment
to a single term of four years, or to
single term extended TO six years?
Il can approach the question from
a perfectly impersonai point of view,
because / shall most cheerfuily abide
by the Judgment of my party and the
public as to whether / shall be can
didate for the presidency again in 1915
absolutely pledge myself to resort
to nothing but public opinion to de-
eide that question.
The President ought TO be absolute