Evening star., 1943-06-14
1wo-Term Move Lacks
Current Application
Writer Believes Any Effect on
Another Roosevelt Campaign
Would Be Incidental
Bu Bertrdn, Benedict.

By Bertram Benedict.
A constitutional amendment to restrict
be Endorsed soon by the anti-New Deal
majority of the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee, according to belief in Washing
ton. The committee now has before it
a resolution for such an amendment,
introduced by Senator Bailey Democrat,
Of North Carolina. Washington believes
also that the resolution would command
a majority vote in the Senate, but not
the two-thirds vote necessary for a con-
stitutional amendment. A majority Of
the Senate would suf1ce to bring up the
Bailey resolution in the Senate, once 1t
has been reported from committee.
Any move now to restrict President
to two terms would not directly prevent
President Roosevelt from seeking a
fourth term in 1914. An anti-third term
amendment would need the vote Of two
thirds of each house Of Congress and
ratification by three-fourths Of the State
Legislatures or special conventions; and
only handful of State Legislatures will
convene next year. In fact, some men,
bers of Congress favorable to such an
amendment say they would oppose it if
1t were made applicable to the present
occupant of the White House.
But although an amendment cannot
be pushed through before l945, the de-
bate on it might have a direct impact
on any intention of President Roosevelt
to run again. If the debate should re-
veal an overwhelming public sentiment
against a third term, the President
would find it harder to 60 after and get
fourth term. In 1875 the House adopt
ed by 5-to-1 vote (234 to 49, a resolu-
ton deploring a third term as 'fraught
with peril to our free institutions" A
was passed by the Senate in 1923 by bet
ter than 2-to-1 vote Csc to 26. Each
resolution was merely an expression of
opinion without legal force, but each
was effective politically. The FIRST headed
of any intention of President Grant to
try for a third successive term in 1876,
and the second weakened a movement
to nominate President Coolidge again
in 1928. despite his statement that he
did not choose to run" ~-
The anti-third term resolution Of the
Senate in 1928 might create awkward
repercussions today. 1t was introduced
and ardently supported by Senator La
Toilette, who supported a third term
for Roosevelt in 194G. The Wisconsin
legislator explained: The American way
Of life has better opportunity of work.
ing out its destiny in the next four years
under Roosevelt" (than under Willlde).
Senator Norris, who backed Roosevelt in
1910. said in 1928 that third term would
be long step toward dictatorship, il not
toward monarchy.
Other Senators who voted for the
anti-third term resolution in 1910 we're
Barkley and Wagner. ardent New Deal
ers who might be expected to support
another term for Roosevelt in 1914.
Conversely. Senator McNary, Repub-
lican leader in the Senate who now in
dorses a constitutional amendment to
forbid third term, voted against the
anti-third term resolution in 1928
Among those who in 1928 urged a
third term for President Coolidge were
Herbert Hoover, Henry Ford, Charles E.
Hughes, Secretary of the Treasury Mel
Ion df the Republican convention should
become deadlocke6, the Republican ma
jority of the Vermont Senate, and many
members of the Republican National
Committee. Very few Of these pointed
out that Cooidge's first term had lasted
less than two years.
Some Senators who went on record in
1928 against third terms admitted that
they might make exceptions in case Of
war or other crises. Among these was
Senator Borah, who said that he would
have voted for third term for Lincoln
if the Civil War had continued; that
Washington would probably have run
for third term If affairs had been as
critical in 1876 as in 1892; and that the
Republican party would almost unani-
mously nominate Coolidge for a third
term in 1928, If he would consent. For
that matter, Franklin D. Roosevelt said
at Victory dinner in Washington, soon
after beginning his second term, that
his greatest ambition was to turn over
Nation intact, prosperous, and at
peace to his successor In 194l, whoever
it was.