Evening star., 1942-03-05

~ at. a total ~ - -
of J years since David Lawrsnes.
1872. with only two interruptions
onelasting a few months and the
othc five years.
Tis correspondent has long
maitained the thesis that rigid
tenre for the Chief Executive Is
not rs effective democracy as a
systm whereby the leader may stay
In flee indefinitely provided he
canoe removed at moments no.
ticethrough the expressed will OF
the people.
Wen Herbert Hoover was de-
featd for reelection in November,
1893: this writer advocated that the
Predent and Vice President resign
ut oce and appoint Mr.. Roosevelt
as secretary of State so that he
coul succeed Immediately to the
responsibilities voted him by the
Ameican people. Thus, for ex-
amr, in the interval between No.
veneer and March, apprehension
hada chance to grow; the then
Predent and the President-elect
didr cooperate, and this to no
vn,a extent was responsible for
som Of the events that brought the
ban! holiday OF March 4, 1888.
Safeguarding Of Choice.
Wen discussion of q third-term
nonnation for Mr.. Roosevelt be-
yan,this correspondent urged that
1t VS. not the length Of term or
the number of terms which
mat,red, but only the safeguarding
Of te method Of choice and the
opportunity to remove an elected
ofacil when lack of confidence
appered. This is the British de-
moclcy's system, and it was Wood
row wilson who, as . student, frst
chapioned the plan for America
way ,ack in the 1ssos. He stead
fastl maintained that principle
vher President-elect, In a letter
vritn to Congress in February,
1el3opposing single term amend
ment to the Constitution.
MI Roosevelt is third-term
~
Presient today, not because the
New eal program was approved by
the rople in the 1910 election, but
becaye millions Of citizens who
disaproved his domestic policies
feare America might become drawn
into te World War and they wanted
to kep continuity Of administra-
ton a foreign affairs. Precedents
near nothing when America Is on
the erse Of war or in war. IT
may y said this Is an argument
that an be used for fourth term,
but ne realistic fact Is that the
Ameran people aren't concerned
with procedures when the Nation
Is in eril-they seek only efficiency
and tctory.
Corersely, it is a mater Of regret
that when a President does not
measre up to his responsibilities
there no way, agred upon as yet
by allides, whereby President can
be axed to intrust his ONCE to
some me else. The Vice President
may may not be a better man
than he President who hapens to
be in fice. Some system is needed
wherey, If circumstances require
1t. thepublic can pick a leader and
chang, horses in midstream as the
British released Chamberlain and
took O. Churchill In the very week
when Holland and Belgium were
being INVADED.
Feeling Of Personal Friendship.
Ther is nothing personal in these
observIions. This writer has al
ways .ad feeling Of personal
Friendship for Franklin Roosevelt.
Long yars ago when Mr.. Roosevelt
was Assistant Secretary Of the Navy
his cogeniality and amiable per-
sonalit, became known to most OF
us who were engaged in newspaper
work that time in the National
Capita
Extremists, whether critics or de-
fender, quite often seem to think
that opposition must have behind
1t som personal animus or griev-
ance. On the contrary. 1t Is harder
and mre uncomfortable to criticize
a frierd than an unknown person.
There no room for considerations
of persnal friendship either in gov
ernmelt or in the realm of the critic.
Mr.. Roosevelt unfortunately violates
that rule often. The President dis
likes b remove any friends from
office, wen though he Intentionally
does geater damage to the public
interes by retaining incompetents.
Ameica's success is dependent on
the quaity of the Presidents leader
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