The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-04-06

ton 10 one-term joint resolutions
were introduced but failed to pass.
For the next 80 years the third
term issue was dormant, mainly be-
cause there was a succession of one
term Presidents. But during the
administration of Andrew Johnson
there were IL joint resolutions rec
ommending single presidential
terms without any action being TAX
en- upon them. But in 1875, when it
seemed likely that Grant would be
candidate for third term, William
M. Springer of Illinois introduced q
resolution in the house.
That in the opinion of this
House, the precedent established
by Washington and other Presi-
dents of the United States, in re-
firing from the presidential Of
fee after their second term has
become, by universI concur
renee, q part of our republican
system of government, and that
any departure from this time
hOnOred custom would be un-
wise, unpatriotic and fraught
with peril to our free institu-
tiOnS.
This resolution was adopted by a
vote Of PA to 10, with SO not voting.
Two years later, after President
Hayes in his inaugural address had
recommended = constitutional
amendment limiting the President
to single term of six years, Spring
er offered another resolution en-
bodying Hayes recommendation
and other reforms. But no action
was taken on the resolution.
The third-term issue remained in
the background until 1892, when
Grover Cleveland, who had been
first elected in 1884 and de-
feated in 1888, was again elected.
Then no less than IS amendments
were introduced in congress to limit
the presidential term in various
ways.
/ Brought up in 1912.
Again there was a lull of 20 years
until 1912 when the house commit
tee on the judiciary submitted q
favorable report on a resolution pro-
posing a constitutional amendment
limiting the President to a single
siX-year term but no further action
was taken. During this year some
Il such amendments were intro.
duced in the house and in 1918 the
I senate passed a joint resolution, by
a vote of AZ to %, proposing a SINH
lar amendment but the house re-
fused to act upon it.
In 1927 when talk was started
about the possibility of Calvin Coo
hdge seeking reelection, the anti.
third term resolutions began to come
thick and fast. The first one. of.
fered by Rep. Beck of Wisconsin, a
Republican, was practically the
same as the Springer resolution of
1875, suggesting a constitutional
amendment against a third term.
Then Senator LaFollette introduced
a similar resolution in the senate.
Resolutions Not Acted Upon.
In the meantime, Representativ
Fairchiid of New York. a Republi-
can. had offered a constitutional
amendment that No person shall be
eligible to the Office Of President
who has previously served two
terms, whether by election or by
succession due to the removal.
death. resignation or inability of the
President where the term by sue
cession shall have continued for q
| period of two years or more"
No action was taken on any Of
these proposals by the Sixty-ninth
congress but they came up again
in the SEVENTEEN eliminating in La.
Follette's resolution being reintru.
dueed on January "a. 1928, amend.
ed and passed by the senate on Feb
ruary 10 by vote of IS to Is. Il
said:
Resolved, That it is the sense OF
the Senate that the precedent estab.
lished by Washington and other
Presidents Of the United States ID
retiring from the presidential Office
after their second term has become
by universal concurrence. a part Of
our republican system Of govern.
ment. and that any departure from
/ this time-honored custom would be
unwise, unpatriotic and fraught with
peril to our free institutions"
| tReleased by Western Newspaper Union