Evening star., 1922-03-23
S|X-YEAR-TERM IDEA
AGAIN IN L|MEL|GHT
President Harding Is Not
Averse to Change-0ther
Officials Differ.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

President Harding is not averse TO
the enactment of a constitutional
amendment limiting the chief eXecu-
tive Of the United States to a single
term of six years.
Although Representative Wood Of
Indiana, republican, who has just in
troduced in Congress such a proposal
for an amendment to the Constitution
was said at the White House today to
have refrained from discussing the
suggestion with the President. it is a
fact that Mr.. Harding has recently
expressed in informal discussions
deep interest in the question of what
the presidential tenure should be.
Mr.. Harding is not particularly con-
cerned whether the limitation anects
his own tenure or not. He is said to
have remarked on one occasion thal
it would be source OF much satlsrac-
tion TO him IL the question OF re-
election were disposed of definitely
during his term of office. 1t is also
true that some of Mr.. Harding's ad-
yisers have differed with him on the
merits of a single presidential term
and have urged that the present un-
written custom of the American peo-
ME is after all. the most satisfactory
way of dealing with presidential sue
cession.
Could Not Affect Present Term.
So far as Mr.. Harding is concerned,
even IL a constitutional amendment
we're passed by two-thirds OF botn
houses of Congress and ratified by
three-fourths of the states before
a f.
feet the length of his present term.
There would be no bar, either, against
Mr.. Harding's reelection for a term
of six years. beginning In March. 1870.
but those who know Mr.. Harding
best say that il a federal amendment
providing for a single six-year term
were to be added to the Constitu-
tion. he would consider himself bound
by II and would decline to be a candl-
date for denomination.
There are diverse views in the
term. Attorney General Daugherty
is said to be one of those who think
the present system is all right.
Others, however. believe that the de-
sire for reelection gets into the
minds Of American Presidents. and
frequently makes them less POSITIVE
in their decisions during the first
term, Some argue, too, that Presl-
dent who takes firm attitude Is
frequently threatened with political
reprisals IL he is candidate tor
reelection, whereas IL there were a
single term he would be inclined to
act more independently and fear
leSsly.
Lacks Effective Support.
Few federal amendments are adopt
ed unless there is behind them active
organization. The merits or demerits
of the present scheme have not been
agitating the public very much. and
no particular organization has been
clamofing for a change in presi-
Dental tenure.
The last formal action taken by
national body was that which the
national convention of the democratic
or less at the behest of William Jen-
never felt himself bound by that
plank, but his viewpoint was that it
was none of his business but the af-
fair of the democratic party. and il
the party decided to change its mind
at a future convention 1t could do
SO. History showed that the demo-
Gratis unanimously reversed them
selves by nominating Mr.. Wilson four
years later at the St. Louis conven-
ton.
Just after the election Of 1912 the
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column g.