The Washington times., 1924-03-12
S|X-YEAR Term
PRESIDENCY
DEFENDED
Congressman LIneberker Pre-
sents Case for Reform
Proposed in Congress.

Shall the President and Vice
President of the United States be
elected to one term of sac gears,
after sUhick they shall be ineligible
to a second term? Or shall the
present method continue? Shall
the President and Vice President
be nominated By a Presidential
primary and elected by direct
vote of the people? Or, shall the
present system" continue? Mr..
Lineberger has introduced in
Congress resolution proposing an
amendment to the Constitution
providing for one long term, a
Presidential primary, and direct
election BY the people.
By WALTER r. LINEBERGER,
Congressman from California.
written for Cosmopolitan News
SeFvlce.)
The specific reason which I had
in mind, extending the Presidential
term to six years, which is Il Sec
Ondary matter with me, as / am
interested in the direct nomination
and election, IL that l do not he.
lieve the President Of the United
States. charged as he Is with great
responsibilities, which, at times,
almost oyerwhelm him, should be
called upon to take into consider.
alton any political elements, or to
have any thoughts Of perpetuating
himself in office. Every day, more
and more people are seeing this to
be true.
This great Government Of ours,
which has grown from few mil
lion people scattered along the At
lantic seaboard Of thirteen States
to 100000 people, has become
the greatest and most complicated
piece Of political machinery on the
face Of the earth.
Duties Overwhelming.
The duties Of the President Of
the United States, as / have said,
are almost overwhelming at times.
and / believe 1t would be for the
best and highest interests Of the
people of the United States, a. well
as conducive to the highest eff
cheney in office, to elect a Presi-
dent for time to allow him to
carry out the policies which he,
and the party electing him, may
have had in mind, and that he
should not 30 reelected.
! regard the method Of the selec-
ton Of Presidential and Vice Presi-
dental candidates a very important
thing. My resolution provides for q
national Presidential primary to be
held not more than six months and
not less than three months proceed
ing each Presidential and Vice Presi.
dental election under regulations
and laws provided by Congress.
Let People Pick Candidates.
The idea is that the people Of the
United States, composing the va
rious political party groups, would
thereby have, in the broadcast sense
practicable, the opportunity Of Sc
lecting the various party candidates
for whom they may vote in the sue.
ceeding Presidential election for
which these candidates are to be
nominated.
While I am not a constitutional
lawyer, and am not capable like my
lawyer colleagues to discuss this
matter in a legal manner, the Con-
stitution Of the United States, to my
mind, exists to reflect the senti-
ments or the people who live under
It. That, in my opinion, is the view.
point Of the average citizen. 1t is
not so much a matter of amending
the Constitution, when popular will
and public welfare demand 1t, but
the obligation Of all good citizens to
adhere to 1t whenever it is so amend.
ed, or In whatever form it may exist.
believe that the direct nomina
J ton and election of President and
! Vice President of the United States
will bring the Government of the
limited States cl0aar IN thu manila