Evening star., 1943-06-07
Bailey Amendment
Seen Aimed al Fifth
Term, Not Fourth
Roosevelt Reelection
Supporters Soy PIon
Strengthens Sentiment
BY the Associated Press.

Reduced to Its predlcta ole effect
, on the moot question of the coming
presidential campaign, the fourth
term enigma. the proposed constitu-
tional amendment limiting presi-
Dental tenure to two terms or parts
of terms looks more like an anti
fifth term than an anti-fourth term
move.
There is evidence it is so viewed
by some ardent fourth term advo-
Gates. They are inclined to regard
it as calculated to strengthen rather
than weaken Roosevelt fourth-term
sentiment in the country.
1t is practically impossible for
such an amendment to become
effective before the 1914 elections
It's author. Senator Bailey. Demo-
crat. of North Carolina, has safe
guarded it against retroactive appli-
cation as an custer to Mr.. Roosevelt
If he should run a fourth time and
be elected. II ratified during that
fourth term. however. it would bar
a fifth-term Roosevelt candidacy.
Public Reaction Hoped For.
Anti-fourth termers. Republican
or Democratic. appear to be relying
largely on their hopes for substan-
tial evidence of public disfavor for
multiple White House terms for
any effect the Bailey proposal might
have on Mr.. Roosevelt's decision or
on Democratic presidential ticket
making next year There is no
question of smouldering opposition
to fourth term in Democratic con-
gressional ranks and among some
party figures of consequence outside
Washington
It remains to be seen. however.
just how far any Democrat might
care to. go in voicing that opposi-
ton at scheduled Senate subcom-
mittee hearings. Nor is there much
doubt that the pro-fourth termers
on the "don't-change- horses in the
middle of the stream argument" if
they desire to offset obvious anti
fourth term witnesses who may be
called
The Bailey move. although he de-
scribed it as not merely political
gesture" tends to bring to the sur
face again the fact that even in
voicing Roosevelt fourth-term hopes.
such presidential champions as Gov
Neely of West Virginia and Senator
Guffey Of Pennsylvania have made
their arguments conditional on con-
tinuance of the war.
Bailey Consulted Colleagues.
Senator Bailey is understood to
have consulted numerous party COL
leagues in the Senate before handing
in his resolution. The fact that he
found it desirable to add to it the
| proviso tnat it should not apply
against any presidential incumbent
at the time OF its ratification. so far
as his current term was concerned.
indicates some degree of favor for at
least Senate discussion of the ques-
ton even among pro-fourth termers.
Rumor has been ripe in Washing
ton that presidential aides have been
busy recently with private canvass
ing Of influential party opinion as
to the fourth-term question. pre-
Sumably for the Presidents informa-
ton.
II thai is true. it indicates Mr..
Roosevelt has not yet made up his
mind as to his course and even the
White House might conceivably look
with favor on the testing of national
sentiment the Bailey resolution in
vites
II the amendment as. drawn ever
reaches the floor OF either House for
a nose count vote and fails to roll up
! substantial Democratic support as
we'll as expected Republican indorse-
ment. it would be hailed by pro-
fourth termers as a go" sign for
their 1914 efforts to keep Mr.. Roose-
Veft in of97ce