Evening star., 1936-11-29
1000 per cent

The question Of presidential tenure
has been of more than ordinary cur
rent interest. 1t was emphasized by
the attitude taken by large propor-
ton of those who voted second term
for Mr.. Roosevelt. who said that he
needed another term to carry out the
program which he had started in his
first four years but had not had time
to complete.
The Roosevelt landslide provoked
dicussion of whether or not the Presi-
dent would seek third term. The
Constitution places no limit upon the
number Of terms a President may
serve, but Washington's refusal of a
third term set precedent which has
always been followed.
Was in Democratic Platform.
A proposal to limit the Office to
single term was included in the Demo-
cratic platform adopted at the Balti-
more convention. in 1912. This con-
ventiou, which nominated Woodrow
Wilson for Presiednt. contained the
plank: Eve favor single presidential
term and to that end urge the adop-
ton of an amendment to the Consti-
tuition making the President of the
United States ineligible for reelection
and we pledge the candidate of this
convention to this principle"
1t is said that President Wilson,
after his election but prior to his in
auguration, urged that no action be
taken on a resolution which was then
peding in the House Judiciary Com
mittee and which was intended to give
effect to the plank in the Democratic
national platform.
The proposal for a single six-year
term for the President is being in
cluded in a group of electoral reforms
for which sponsorship is being urged
by Senator Norris of Nebraska. These
also include direct election of the
President and Vice President and
division of each States electoral
vote in accordance with the popular
suffrage.
OF those who favored a single six
year term, ALB per cent said they
thought the President would be able
to do better job if he did not have
to think of reelection. The effect Of
the campaign for reelection was ex-
pressed by roofing salesman: IF
a President was serving for only one
term, he could enforce the policies
he thought best without being always
compelled to do the bidding of various
groups of voters with selfish interests. /"
A student put it: with campaigning
in the fourth year, the President S
term is really three years long, which
isn't long enough to carry out national
programs"
Value Of Longer Term.
Among many persons there was the
feeling that President of the United
States takes from the duties attend
ant his Office not only time for cam
paigning for reelection. but a great
deal of time throughout his term to
build up his party machine; they feel
that an unduly large proportion of
the persons with whom he talks come
to see him not on public business, but
to ask private favors. "a longer term
would enable the President to spend an
adequate amount of time to work out
plans for the Nation, rather than
worrying about his political machine
and reelection" maintained a book
salesman in Indianapolis.
"A six-year term gives the Presi-
dent security in office-he would not
have to play politics all during his
term" declared a physician. A de-
signer of castings had the same re-
action: "As it is now, the President
spends his first term trying to get
himself elected to a second term, in
stead of looking after the best inter-
ests of all the people"
The group which thought that four
years is too short a term to accom-
plish q program was almost as large
as the preceding group; 1t comprised
35.6 per cent of those who favored
the six-year term. They all felt that
national program, especially II 1t Is
q program which Is initiated by Q
new administration and Is not merely
a continuation of the policies Of the
same party, is q complicated business
which requires more than four years
to develop.
1.-THE administration in power should
have the opportunity to work out its
ideas adequately before the people are
asked to judge them," said q Boston
secretary. A lawyer thought: 1T takes
that long for the President to get his
teeth in the situation" One house.
wife declared that four years was not
long enough to accomplish any na.
tional program. Many others agreed