Evening star., 1922-04-05
WOOD AMENDMENT
JUST|F|ES D. c. VOTE
Naturalization of Elections
and 6-Year Presidential
Term Also Proposed.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
To give the disenfranchised resi-
dents of the National Capital equal
voice in legislation and national poll
tics with their fellow citizens
throughout the states, and to so
change the national election system
as to get increased efficiency in fed
eral business is the purpose of con-
stitutional amendment proposed by
Representative Will R.. Wood of In
diana, on which he has been promised
a hearing soon before the House cleo
tions committee of which Representa-
tive Florian Lampert of Wisconsin, is
chairman.
Some revolutionary changes are pro-
posed by Representative Wood, who
for more than a quarter of a century
has been an outstanding figure in
politics in his home state, Indiana,
and for nearly ten years has been
one of the wheel horses in the re-
publican national organization. The
correspondence he is receiving in large
quantities shows that his proposals
have won a large following in every
have strong support in urging his con-
stitutional amendement
Representative Woods new general
election law contemplates a six-year
term for the President, and that he
would be ineligible for reelection He
points out that when the Constitution
was originally framed. in the first
draft submitted, a revision was made
for election of the President for a
term of seven years without re-elec-
tion. This was changed he says.
during deliberations to election for
ciy he vi n CrrP-
cession, and SO remained until the
closing days of the convention, when
it was sreconsidered and the present
plan adopted.
Advocated Many Years.
been advocated ever since the adop-
ton of the Constitution, Representa-
tive Wood emphasizes, and has been
seriously considered by some of the
greatest statesmen-Clay, Websters
Calhoun, Blaine and Bryan. In fact.
he says, the democratic party has
long been committed to a six-year
term without succession and put the
one-term feature in the party plat
form when Wilson was first elected
The advantage of a single term, as
w
if the President knows he cannot be
reelected he will act independent of
any and all political influence. He
will not be trimming his sails" dur
ing his first term with the hope of
being elected again. This should re-
fleet goodly influence, he believes,
through all the administrative branch
of the national government, because
then the army of employees, especial
ly those in charge of the various
units, would not be using their time
and opportunities for the purpose of
re-electing their chief. 1t should tend
to stabilize every branch of the fed
eral service.
The Wood bill provides that the ma
tional election shall be held on the
first Tuesday in October and the in
auguration shall be on the first Mon
day in November. 1t says that the
man who receives the highest number
of votes-not a plurality over all
shall be President and the one re-
ceiving the next highest. of the same
political party, shall be Vice Presi-
dent.
1t provides that If between the cleo
ton and the inauguration the Presi-
dent-elect should die, then the Vice
President-elect would automatically
become President. which now might
or might not happen. as there is no
SpeClnC requirement tQdI lne eleCtOTS
shall make the Vice President-elect
President in such an event.
For Direct Vote.
1t provides for a direct vote. doing
away with the electoral college. 1t
gives the right to vote at a national
election to any one who has been a
resident for thirty days in his voting
precinct. This is intended to be a
distinct and separate election for Pres
ident. Vice President, members of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
It says that the right to vote shall
non-payment of taxes or any other
reason except criminal conviction or
adjudicated mental Incompetence.
This will insure the election of
men to the Vice Presidency who will
always be big enough to be President"
Representative Wood says. He believes
that too little attention has been paid
President, and that any one who has
watched the course of national con-
ventionS has found that men are be-
ing placed on the ticket by reason of
political exigency rather than chosen
for marked ability-"although there
are some notable examples" he adds.
Representative Wood has a strong
reason for wanting to completely ma
tionalize the election, making it en-
tirely separate and distinct from
state and local elections. On this ac-
count he would have the entire ma
chinery for these elections provided
by Congress and have them held under
the supervision Of federal rather than
state officers. They should not inter-
fere in any way with the state and
local elections, he says.
I'm my opinion" said Representa-
tive Wood. this would settle the
much vexed question of southern rep
resentation. AS I understand it, a
grandfather law or a tax-payment
law as a prerequisite to voting in the
south is to maintain the white mans
control of their elections. The people
of the south, I am sure" he argues,
would have no objeetfon to the voice
of all its people in a national election
If they were assured it would not in
terfere with their state and local at
fairs"
The Wood bill also provides that
Congress shall apportion the rep.
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