Evening star., 1943-04-01

MI lsiuu 1CIm D0I
Butler Wants Some Of
Opposition Porty os
Co-Authors Of Resolution
By the Associated Press.
Republicans angled today for
Democratic support preparatory
to introducing in the Senate a
resolution proposing a constitu-
tional amendment limiting a
Presidents tenure in Office to two
4-year terms.
Senator Butler, Republican, OF
Nebraska said he and other Re-
publicans planned to join In Offering
the resolution soon and hoped to
have some Democrats listed as CO.
authors. An informal canvass In
dicated, he said, that several"
Democrats would support the meas
ure.
The Butler resolution is similar to
a proposal being considered by SEN
ator Wherry, Republican, of Ne
braska, but differs in form from a
constitutional amendment under
study by Senator Bridges, Repub-
lican, of New Hampshire which
would limit Presidents tenure in
office to one six-year term.
COP to Back Measure.
Obviously designed to counteract
talk of a fourth-term nomination
for President Roosevelt, the Butler
measure could be expected to have
the solid backing of the Senates 80
Republicans, but a two-thirds vote
by both houses is required to submit
a constitutional amendment to the
States.
Impetus to the congressional move
came with the adoption of anti
fourth term resolutions by Republi-
can-controlled State Legislatures in
Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michi-
gan.
Republican National Chairman
Harrison Spangler said the action in
these States represented a spon-
taneous movement which apparent
ly started too late to accomplish its
objective by 1914.
Walker Is Optimistic.
Mr.. Spangler made this observa-
ton as Democratic National Chair
man Frank Walker returned from
a three weeks tour of IL States of
the Far West, Midwest and South
west with an impression that his
party's chances for 1914 look very
good"
Mr.. Walker did not mention the
fourth-term issue in talking with re-
porters in Chicago, but at Spokane,
where he visited March Is, he said,
1T is the opposition that is talking
fourth term, not the Democrats"
Senator Butler said that in draft
ing the Senate resolution he was
moved by the belief that to continue
President in Office more than two
terms could only lead eventually to
breakdown in democratic govern
ment.
THE continuation OF one man in
Office puts the presidency of the Ma
ton about on the level OF that in
volved in the maintenance of the
Hague machine in. Jersey City," Sen
ator Butler told reporters. The ma
chine becomes established perma-
nently because of the political in
f1uence it Yields, the trades it can
make and the pressure it can bring
to bear"
Mr.. Spangler, commenting on the
Midwestern State resolutions, said
That is a rather spontaneous feel
ing in the Legislatures rejecting
public sentiment. But I rather think
that at this late date with most
Legislatures ready to adjourn, there
would be very little chance of the
necessary number of Legislatures
acting" (Thirty-two are required to
call a constitutional convention or
have Congress submit an amend
ment, which then must be approved
by 36 States)
Shelved in Maryland.
A survey shows that similar two
term limitation proposals are before
Missouri, Wisconsin and Nebraska
Legislatures. The Republican-con-
trolled Colorado Legislature has jus:
adjourned with such a resolution
buried In a House committee after
having passed the Senate. The
Maryland Senate, with Democrats
in the majority. also has pigeon
holed the issue.
Eighteen State Legislatures are
still in session, says the Council OF
State Governments, and most all OF
these will adjourn this month OF
next.
Even if all 18 adopted the reso-
luton it still would miss the re-
quired 80 by 10 and force the issue
into next years sessions starting in
January which even the most vio-
lent partisans contend would be too
late to place a legal barrier against
any fourth-term movement.