New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-04-09
RECALLING SOME PLEDGES

Continued speculation, particularly
among Democrats, as to the proba-
bility of Wilson being a candidate
for a third term, calls attention to
the plank in the Democrat platform
of 1912, which reads as follows:
we favor a single presidential term
and to that end urge the adoption
Of an amendment &c the Constitu-
ton making the President OF the
United States ineligible for re-elec-
ton. and we pledge the candidate OF
this Convention TO this principle"
Near the end of hi. first term this
pledge was called 10 the attention oil
President Wilson and he said, in eff
feet. that he did not construe IT 10
pledge him not 20 be a candidate for
q second term, but that II pledged the
party 10 the submission Of a Cons
titutional amendment providing for
a single presidential term. At tina,
time, and since, j, was pointed ont
that the pledge IN the platform did
not stop with the mere declaration
in favor of a Constitutional amend
mcnt bu, there was the pledge for a
single presidential term and the clos
ing clause we pledge the candidate
of this Convention 10 this principle.
That plank was put in at the sug-
gcstion of William Jennings Bryan
who en~deavored 10 make the clause
as specific as possible for the pur.
pose OF barring the nominee OF thai
Convention from second term can
didacy.
President Wilson not only violot-
ed the spirit and letter OF that pledg,
but many claim he obtained his sec.
ond election by INSTRUMENTATION anc
.ubterfugc. Although having in hi
possession information which mad,
il certain that the United State
would become involved IN the wa
if il maintained its honor. yet h
went TO the country in a campaigI
the sole issue Of which was. HI
kept MS out Of wal" The ,nsinoeritl
Of the slogan in the second campaigi
was no more marked than that o
the first. In the first Wilson cam
paign the issue was the high cos
of iivina and on tina, subject tn,
Democratic platform Of 1912 said:
The high EOS, of living is a Sc
rious problem in every American
home. The Republican party in il
platform attempts TO escape from res
possibility for present conditions b.
denying that they are due 10 a pro
%tective tariff"
Immediately upon its accession 4
power, the Democratic Administration
called a special session of Congress
and reduced the protective tariff bu
from month 10 month thereafter TIL
cost # living continued - increase
The fact is that not a pledge of thu
Democratic platform was kept nor i
there any reason 20 believe tina
President Wilson intends now or eve.
intended 10 keep either the spirit o
the letter OF the single presidential
term pledge. lie will be a candidate
II he can find or make any kind o
a false issue upon which he can fine
or make any kind Of a false issu'
upon which he can hope 30 deceive
the people Of the United States ono
more His silence on the subiec
can be construed only as an illus
tration Of his watchful waiting policy
by means OF which he hopes tina.
circumstances will arise which vii
present an encouraging prospect To-
his reelection. BY HE control owe
the Democratic party through thu
Administration machine, he is IN
position TO dictate his nomination. ant
has curse in Chat respect will be de
termined solely by his judgment az
10 the chance of his election.