Evening star., 1936-11-08
Six-Y Year, One Term Presidency
Plan Divides Business Leaders
Freedom of Executive From Necessity of
Following Political Expediency
IL, Decisions Is Cited.

necessity Of planning for holding the
office for o second term. It would
give Congress the opportunity to re-
assert itself and not delegate its pow
ers. Under the Constitution, Con-
gress Is q legislative body and should
be q thing apart from, and not too
closely associated with, the execu-
tive"
Charles Nagel. outstanding st.
Louis attorney and former Secretary
Of Commerce and Labor In the Taft
administration: II believe q whole
President for one term Is better than
half a President for two terms.
Independent Action Likely.
"A President who knows he can
not be elected to another term would
be more likely to act entirely inde-
pendently than one with an eye to re-
election. He would not be as greatly
tempted to compromise his ofiicial
conduct as he otherwise might be on
occasion.
1T Is true that the temptation to
compromise might not be wholly ex-
cluded, but the six-year single term
would accomplish as much In that di-
rection as Is probably humanity pos
sible."
Walter Davidson Of Milwaukee: In
the case of o strong President with
a good program for the country, the
single six-year term would seem de-
sirable. but, under an unreliable
President. with Q Congress enacting
his program, it would be quite an
other matter. In the latter situation
we have the privilege every four
years Of changing the administration
in power If the people 90 desire"
Rudolf Hokanson, for years a lead
ing Milwaukee automobile distribu-
tor and now . banker: "A six-year
term for the President would prove
an interesting experiment. Elected
for such q single term, the President,
regardless Of party Affiliations, would
be less concerned about politics and
more concerned about putting through
constructive program for the coun-
try than under the present system
Of o national election every four
years. I believe. in the long run,
the suggested change would lead to
stability in Government, which, In
turn, would lead to economic stabil-
ity."
w. @. Mas, president OF the Mil
waukee Association Of Commerce:
Industry probably would be better
Oh under single six-year term for
the President. Industry and trade
would be less disturbed than under
the system of electing . President
every four years. There seems more
to be said in favor Of than against
the single-term idea. That is my first
but the proposal calls for
thoughtful consideration. When we
have q President who is not good
for the country, even q four-year
term seems too long"
Limit ON Bad President.
Charlton Yarnall Of Philadelphia,
investment banker: "The proposal
has this advantage-if you got . bad
man in Office, you could turn him
out in six years instead Of having to
wait a possible eight years before get
ting rid OF him."
Samuel M. Vauclain OF Philadel-
phia, financier: "It's . good thing to
stir the natives up every four years.
7 certainly wouldn't favor an ar
bitrary six-year term for the Presi-
dent. Some of them do enough dam
age in four.
"As far as the Presidents having
q second term Is concerned, 1t Is my
opinion that, If he can win the con-
fidence Of the people during his orig
inal incumbency, he Is entitled to re-
election"
John c. Bell, jr., Philadelphia at
torney and Pennsylvania commander
of the Crusaders: Il feel that the
present four-year term Is preferable,
principally because, II We had . poor
President, the proposed plan would
give him two additional years In which
to harm the country. The only OBJ
lection to the system now In vogue
Is that the incumbent running for
reelection has . tremendous ad-
vantage over his opponent In the
Federal patronage and funds which
are available and may be used either
directly or Indirectly to influence
votes"
Orville H. Green Of Syracuse, N. r,
lumber dealer: Under the present
system, there is no question that the
Presidents first term Is spent build
ing up Q political machine to assure
his reelection. If the President knew
that he could not be reelected, his
administration would be character.
lied by q greater spirit Of independ-
ence.
81 think, too. that there Is no ques.
ton that IN election every four years
q disturbing 10 bvllness. For at least