Evening star., 1927-05-30
The Anti-Third Term League.

An Anti-Third- Term League has
been formally launched in New York
City, its avowed purpose to prevent
the denomination and reelection of
President Coolidge. Indeed, from the
letter sent out by the new league. it
appears that the anti-third termers
would be satisfied with any Republi-
can except Mr.. Coolidge. The letter
includes list of eighteen suggestions
for the Republican nomination, rang
ing from Senator George w. Norris
of Nebraska to Secretary of the
Treasury Andrew w. Mellon, with
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler sand.
wiched in between. Never was more
catholic taste in candidates dis.
played. Probably the only reason
that the name of Senator Robert NJ.
La Toilette, jr, of Wisconsin was
not included is because the youthful
Senator will not have reached the
constitutional age of 35, set for Presi-
dents of the United States, when
Strangely the directing heads of
the new league We're supporters of
Theodore Roosevelt in his 1912 effort
to capture first the Republican nomi-
nation and then the presidential elec-
ton on the Bull Moose ticket. Prob
ably no Inconsistency is discerned
hN- wi haiy
tude toward a so-called third term"
in 1912 and their attitude toward a
so-called third term for Mr.. Coolidge
today. The president of the league
is Henry w. Salant, the only State
Senator elected on the progressive
ticket in 1912 when he supported
Roosevelt for President. Mrs. Henry
Hersey Andrew is vice president. Mr..
Andrew, the husband Of the vice
president of the league, was a friend
of Col. Roosevelt and was appointed
a delegate to the Bull Moose conven-
ton, it is reported, although he was
unable to serve.
Under such auspices, the new
league starts on it's career somewhat
precariously. Ten thousand letters
have been mailed to Republicans
throughout the country, urging that
sentiment be crystallized against the
denomination of President Coolidge.
If the plans Of the organizers of the
league are carried out, branches will
be established in many or all of the
send out appeals of this character
and another thing to obtain a sub
stantial response.
In the first place the Anti Third
Term League begs the question when
it asserts that another term for
President Coolidge would constitute
third term" President Coolidge
will, in March, 1929, have completed
his first elective term and will have
served in addition nineteen months
Of the Harding term. No constitu-
tional question is involved, for there
is no limitation on re-eligibility of
a President of the United States in
the fundamental law of the land. AT
the time the Constitution was drafted
vigorous efforts were made to write
into the document.a provision that
President should not be eligible to
succeed himself. but these failed, and
failed with the opposition Of George
Washington, himself.
Republican leaders throughout the
country have declared unequivocally
their support of President Coolidge
for the party nomination next year.
Here and there some Republicans who
do not like Mr.. Coolidge and his ad-
ministration have privately voiced
their opposition to a denomination,
but have failed to announce this op-
position publicly. Presumably they
are waiting for some such organlza-
ton as the new Anti i-Third-Term
League to screw their courage to
the sticking point.