Evening star., 1940-09-30
Indispensable Man
Idea Is Rejected
By Bishop Leonard
Methodist Leader Testifies
Against Third Term
At Senate Hearing

mo man is so important that
another cannot take his place,
Bishop A. w. Leonard of the Meth
odist Church, resident prelate Of the
Washington area. said today in a
statement inserted in the record OF
= hearing before a Senate Judiciary
Subcommittee on proposed consti-
tutional amendments to limit the
Presidents tenure.
Faithful adherence in the past to
the no-third-term policy has not
caused the country to suffer. Bishop
Ionard said. and the limitation of
the presidential term to eight years
has been a distinct asset. There has
always been someone in the great
crises who has been chosen by the
people and who has served splendid
y and at times sacrifcially.'
Young E. Smith. dean of Columbia
University Law School. told the SUBJ
committee that freedom Of nom
hation and freedom of election
you'd be DESTROYED if Presidents
were permitted TO serve more than
tTo terms.
y Convention Control Power.
IA President" he said with eight
Years of cumulative power over the
disposition of jobs and money. sup
ported by a Nationwide circulation
G controlled administration pub
fcity, can forestall any other poten-
Hal candidate in his own party, can
pntrol his party'S nominating con-
vention and. having brought about
ais own nomination, can secure his
qwn election through the influence
OF patronage and the disposition of
Vast sums to people who have come
10 look to him for support.
This might easily result in a
political dynasty which conceivably
might last indefinitely"
q Mr.. Smith contended also that a
Limitation on presidential tenure
prevented the Executive from
dominating the judicial and legisla-
tive branches of the Government"
Bishop Leonard said the American
democracy can be retained in no
better way than by checks and
balances and by those timely changes
that guarantee to our Nation that
20 one man can so intrench himself
In the presidency AS to even hint at
permanency or encourage the people
30 accept the fallacious and un-
American theory of the INDISPENSABLE
t1an'
Influence Over American Life.
. The witness said the continu-
alton of one man in the presidency
for more than eight years gives
bim an increasingly effective con-
trol over American life which would
mold and fashion the thought and
tfe of the American people accord
mig to his pattern. In a, democracy
no single man can determine in
advance what attitudes and posi-
lions people may take. without him
Self becoming in fact a dictator"
= Bishop Leonard concluded his
statement with reference to "the
danger of intrenching a presidential
family in the life of a nation for
TOO long a time" adding; ..,.
Whatever may the good ac-
compllshed by commercializing the
office of President of the United
States, and no matter to what ex-
tent resourcefulness may be en-
ployed for securing funds for under
privileged people, the office of the
President, directly or indirectly, was
never intended to be used in any
such manner or for such purposes
As a rule the families of our Pres
idents have been quite free from
blame at this point. However, when
the high Office of President is used
for the purpose of building up great
family fortunes it is time for the
American people to make inquiry
snd take soundings, for such pro-
cedure II long continued will be-
come degradation to any people"