Milford chronicle., 1940-10-04
KIRKWOOD STREET WILLKIE
CLUB REPORTS PROGRESS

The KirkwOod Street Willde Clul
of Dover. in an article two weeks age
gave a partial list of the reasons
why they are supporting Willkie fol
President, and at this time are de-
sirOus of adding to that list.
In several ways this presidential
campaigns differs from any other in
the whole history of the United
States. 1t is of course the first time
any twice elected President has for
Ced a third nomination and sought
a third TEN, that in itself makes it
without parallel, one of the major
tissues; If not the main issue of this
campaign. We wonder if the Amer
ioan people are giving sufficient
thought to this question.
The sO-called American tradition
that no President shall succeed him
self for third term is not merely an
empty meaningless custom, it is
safeguard against one individual
perpetuating himself in Office by u.s.
ing the presidency of this country to
build up an impregnable political
machine. We think this is the safe
guard against dictatorship. This tra-
dltiOn has been the greatest safe
guard for our liberties and personal
freedom. It is a principle which in
heres within a truedemOcracy, be-
cause in true democracy a dictator
ship is impossible. We feel that
such a tradition is as much a part
of cur constitutional form of govern
ment as any written provision of the
Constitution and no emergency how
ever great, can excuse its violation,
any more than can an emergency
provide legal grounds for ibnOring
the Constitution.
Every political party has tenaci-
Ously adhered to this tradition. Its
sacredness has never been seriously
questioned until 1910. We hate to
think of our Chief Executive as a
confused individual battened ON pow
er and suffering conceit and an in
satiable ambition to be great, chal-
lenge its usefulness.
We are reminded here of Senator |
Alben w. Barkley, who in 1928 |
pleaded loud and long for the pass
age of a resolution denOuncing a
third term for any President. At that
time Senator Barkley rightfully said
1t is dangerous to say that any man
is ever indispensable or ever was in
Senator Barkley also
recalled that Washington who estab-
lished that tradition and Jefferson,
Madison and Jackson were faced
With greater emergencies than can
ever again confront this country,
md the yturned down third terms
because such precedent would be ;
raught with dangerous consequent ,
res, but today Senator Barkley is
the President for third ,
erm. Why? The country is in a
itate of great emergency. If there is I
iuch an emergency as the President I
low pictures, why didn't he intro !
luce defense program a long time 4
lgo? If he saw the tremendous 1
hreat to American democracy which U
lie now pictures for us, why did he .
lse less than 700 million dollars of n
he Is billion dollars given him by n
congress for public works and re- a
in the form of a blank Q
heck-for army and navy con-
truction. r
There are a number of men in r,
olitics who perceive facts and n
ress them up to gain advantages; n
thers have clever but impetuOus n
linds subject to appealingly specu- "
itive theories, but we find those A,
len in so many instances have used n
leir brilliant minds wholly or n
lainly for their own advantage. n
iendell Willkie uses his sound and !,
enetrating mind for the good of a vi
luse.