Evening star., 1920-12-12
TWO AMENDMENTS ]:
CALL FOR ADOPTION
Constitutional Changes Affecting the
Presidency Are Deemed to Be s..
49, .y%>tA
: : +. e@5~.s isaf AQV1SaOle. a'"is
!. T.. /.

well rs expeditions, action, arc de.
manded by y'successful administration,
In addition an effective executive
must have time to outline. develop
and put into operation q policy, of
constructive statesmanship.
In. one-third Of our qusdrennial
eleottons tho President was given an
additional term to complete his pro-
gram Only three out Of the twenty.
seven were denied 1t by the people
in a contest, and only four were az.
MED by their own parties. There
Is no outstanding example. where an
important policy acceptable to the
people was frustrated by a denial to
extend the first into a second ternr
which answers that part Of the srEu-
ment for change to q longer tsrm.-
Soant consideration is given to the
allegation that q President employs
his energies during his first term Is
insure his second term. II his.en-
ergies are devoted to insure q higA.
grade Of service and a successful ad-
ministration. even though the domi.
'nant motive is to insure re-eieet4on,
no fault can be found with W II
the energy is employed, in q eoedid
way. by use Of the appointive power
through political machination unser
the agency Of machine politics. IT is
properly held culpable. '.,t.-.,:4f
Length ef, q Tern. -.
The term should be long seneuSS
to permit q, sound and successful a1s
ministration. 1T should not b.. =
long a. to endanger. the public wsls
fare from q weak, irresolute or sifdA
executive. Permanency IL desirable
but not at the cost Of safety. Grsatsf
harm lies in too long a term tkas
in too short -Four years 10 too 1e6ex
for m irresoluts or feeble execueSSS
on the ono hand. or an auto6atiSS
and irresponsible occupant ON th8
other. Though It 10 too short for m
energetic, and vigorous administrator,
it should bsypir1sittsd by tho prin.
ciple Of elisfbl7iAy for re-eIectioAatV
extend throssh ssecond four.yeaf
period. 80, 80
This prineitis 10 rightly conssaersd
the best detezsnlnsnt and surest Sxaf:
antee Of wiss:ssand, courageous .sds
ministration OF a real vigorous exec-
utive. The American principle mas
been and still is ''short term. QUICK
responsibility and ready response. !" Tkfs
has worked we'll in our system -. !.
Aheaaaa E'seassal cssaess. p -
The eisatossl. college shosiia be
abolished. It 10 an expression of the
fears Of the fathers Of the inability
Of the people to choose the .Presi-
dent. It heoalne n dead letter soon
after .its adoption. Aside from that
fact 1t involves errors that should
be corrected + denies the individaaf
voter infiueAcesin Afie final result. Il
Is .sometimes the case that the eiee-
toraI vote 10 contrary to the POPULAR
vote and thus prevents a decision
upon the basisIDf the majority vote.
1t permits undue political power
toward sectionaiizfng the nation.
There can be 10. advantage in cen-
tinuance Of the sieetoral college sys.
tenn. while there ATE possibilities Of
evil consequences. This change must
come by way Of An amendment to the
CONSTITUTIONS ItsEil1 correct, another
practice which sheuad have attention.
Presidential Disasmty.s ,ss1i i.-.,
The question of presidential disa-
bility- In case the President should
become incapacitated' to perform t6e
duties Of his ofnce has never been
provided for either. in the Canstisu-
tion and necessarily not by law, since
there is no constitutional authority
provided for such law. There Stedld
be an amendment. the republics
leaders urge. specifying what body
should exercise this authority. Such
an Amendments is now before Con-
gress. .......,-.A-.ss. :.,-
Z 80.