New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-12
The Second Term.

about President Wilson's determination TO
seq, a second term. in defiance of the SIN
ole term pledge of the Baltimore platform
:. reouires an unusual degree of political
Innocence TO assume that he ever for one
,.onrent recognized the Baltimore pledge
ss limitation on his political aspirations.
Ii one may put it the way they put things
in Dublin. even before he was elected MIR.
Wilson was already candidate for re-
election.
The history OF the 1912 campaign shows
this clearly. When Mr.. Wilson accepted
the Democratic nomination at Sea Girt he
went out of his way to say that "a plat
form is not a policy" Mr.. Bryan was
very eager TO pin the candidate down to
an acceptance Of the one term pledge.
He strove artfully to make Mr.. Wilson
commit himself one way or the other. This
:nsistence became highly embarrassing on
several occasions. especially at the time
Of the Brother-to- Brother meeting IN LIN
,oln. Neb. But when Mr. Wilson renamed
Ceaf to all Mr. Bryan'S opportunities and
-efused 10 take any notice OF the one term
pledge all but the very credulous were con-
vinced that he had already decided to dis
miss it entirely from his political calcula-
tons. When Mr.. Bryan was invited into
the Wilson Cabinet the one term promise
was considered to have received a decent
burial.
On February !. 1913, the Senate, then
Republican. voted 10 submit one-term
constitutional amendment TO the state leg
islatures. This amendment could easily
have passed the House Of Representatives,
since the House was Democratic and
great many Republican members were sun
smarting under the recollection of the
scandals of the Taft-Roosevelt campaign
Tor the Republican Presidential nomination.
But Mr.. Wilson interviewed and defeated
the amendment. At his request the House
committee having charge of the measure
refused to report it. Everybody in Wash
ington knew that he had defeated the
amendment and why. The Palmer letter
of 1913. now published, therefore tells moth
ing that was not unwritten history three
years ago.
Those who can find any novelty in the
"A clash between Mr.. Wilson's candidacy for
reelection and the single term pledge OF the
last Democratic national platform have
failed to grasp a situation of long stand
ing. Other pledges of the Baltimore plat
form have been repudiated lodged or sim
plv neglected-those sustaining discrimi-
nation i'm the Panama Canal tolls in favor
of American coastwise shipping, promis-
ING national Presidential primary, prom
ising the publication of all Endorsements
given to aspirants 10 Federal judgeships
etc. These fell by the way without pre-
meditation. But the abrogation of the
single term pledge. so far as Mr.. Wilson
was concerned. was thoroughly premedl-
tated, and more or less openly admitted
from the very beginning.
We do not censure Mr.. Wilson for seek
ing another term. His obligations TO the
Baltimore platform are largely matter
between him and his fellow Democrats
We DO not think he deceived many voters
i'm 1912; his intentions even then were suf-
Cciently manifest. We believe it is better
that Mr.. Wilson should run again, under
existing circumstances for the country
ought TO have a chance TO pass directly
on what he has done and what he has
TODD for.
There is one point in the Palmer letter,
however, which deserves consideration
quite apart from the question of Mr.. Viii
sons reputation Of the single term prin-
ciple. The President says very truly that the
powers of the Presidency have become too
cxtensive-es specially those powers which
make him the master of the machinery of
lis own party. To be the master of that
is to be the master OF his party associates
i'm both houses of Congress.
Mr.. Wilson speaks of divesting the
President Of some of his excessive power
by making him in way responsible
through his Cabinet to the House of Rep
resentatives. Some such responsibility
would tend to broaden public life in Wash
inoton and would give new dignity and
yalue to service in Congress. 1t would
produce far better rounded and educated
o,blic men. II would also tend to lessen
By creating many real leaders. the chance
which q President now has of eXtortlng a
denomination from his own party.
Any introduction of Cabinet RESPONSE
bility to Congress would compel reShap-
ing of the present Federal scheme of gov
crnment. That would be a tedious process.
But there is an easier way to reach the
evil which Mr.. Wilson has in mind. 1t is
that President should not merely say
that he will refrain from nressurc ON