The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-27

By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer)
Copyright 1920.
NJ WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The age-olG
question Of whether presidents of the
United States should have a single term
is UP again. just eight years ago it was
raised in congress when Woodrow Viii
son was president elect and he wrote q
letter to A. Mitchell Palmer, then chair
man of the Democratic caucus in the
house OF representatives, saying fom
years was often too short a time to com
plete an administration program and that
often it was too long a period to keeT
IN incompetent executive, and that the
people themselves were the best Judges
Now. however, the question has arisen
M connection with the selection of a cab.
met by President Elect Harding. There
seems to be two definite lines of thought
one that Mr.. Harding ought to select
men who viii be of benefit to him, in
case he has made a record emitting him
to a second term and tine other is that
he ought to select no men for his cabinet
whose own ambitions would give birth to
POLITICAL intrigue or an InOTdInate desire
for the lmellght on the part of the
wotIld-be candidates for the 1920 nomina-
ton
Senator Hiram johnson may raise the
question when he revives the whole sub
lect of choosing presidents by preference
lation that viii put an end to the meth
DDS by which the political conventions
OF both parties operated in 1920.
As Tor Senator Harding, the question OF
a second term enters into many a dis
cussion Of the policies of the next admin
lstration, Nobody is .attributing to the
Prcsldeut-eIeCt a desire for second
term for anybody who knows Warren
Harding well, would never characterize
him as an ambitious man. He's much
more concerned with making good in the
term for which he has been elected, and
letting the future take care OF itself.
Nevertheless, the uoliticiaus. who think
they are going to have a good deal To say
about the next Administrations. are al
ready laying lines for the retention OF
control after the first term shall have
been ended. One man, who Is close to
Senator Harding said he felt sure there
would he "A Harding organization and that
it would be folly to ignore political ira
dItlon, or opportunity by taking any other
course after the Republican party had
been cooling its heels outside the White
House for eight long years.
Warren Harding can easily get a renom-
nation in 1924. if he makes even fair
record III the presidency. as the office
holding machinery Is all-powcrtul. ut a
national convention. Senator Hiram
johnson intends to but 'stob to 'tbis
Influence in national politics But it
would not be surprising to find Senator
Harding himself eliminating the personal
issue from consideration by making a
single-term pledge similar To that which
Governor I.owden. Of. Illinois gave to Re
publican leaders at Chicago.
There are those who think senator
Harding would get along much better
with Hiram johnson aud have much less
trouble if the question of single term
for the presidency were disposed of 50
that the California senator would feel
that lie had am equal opportunity to win
the nomination in 1924 This is one phase
of cabinet making and organization plan
ming. which Mr. Harding will find it nee
rssarv to settle when he gets back to
Marion