Evening star., 1947-02-18
Letters to The Star
One Eight Year Presidential
Term Held Desirable

The House of Representatives has ap-
proved by more than the necessary two
thirds majority (285-12D a proposed
constitutional amendment limiting
presidential tenure to two terms; the
proposal is now before the Senate.
Constitutional amendment is a pro-
tracted and expensive operation; it is
our nearest approach, in effort and cost,
to presidential election. In this case,
it would merely prohibit a condition
which has occurred but once in 100
years.
Can we not achieve, by such prolonged
effort, something more worthwhile than
this almost trifing objective? Why not
deal more broadly with the presidential
tenure, by conf1ning it to one longer
term with no reelection to that Office
long advocated by many?
The writer suggested some years ago
one term of eight years, with no re-
election, for the two four-year terms,
usual when the same party remains in
power-thus lifting the Chief Executive
and Commander in Chief out of poll
tics" to the nonpartisan leadership of
our country, at home as we'll as abroad.
Such elimination of all electioneering
would tend to right even the wrong man.
Moreover, it would save for the coun-
try precious time and effort the Presi-
dent must now waste in dealing with
nunberless party, special and selfish
interests.
Furthermore, with such constitutional
provision for nonpartisansfip, the
President would be equally effective as
Chief Executive, whichever party had
congressional majority.
If eight years be thought too long,
make it seven or six: out let us have no
reelection of the President-who should
have generous pension and possibly
subsequent nonvoting membership in
the Senate.
The succession to the presidency be-
comes increasingly more important with
lengthening of the presidential term,
and might be logically covered in the
proposed amendment.
ARTHUR GRAHAM GLASGOW.
Palm Beach, Fla.
Angel.Food Cake for GIs?
To the Editor o. The Star:
The deceiving half-truths currently
emanating from the War Department in
behalf of the recruiting program are
likely to undermine eventually the We
racity of all Government releases. The
department should realize that it is not
selling soap or cereal-it is speaking for
a great country which heretofore has
not tolerated such cheap limitations
On Sunday last, was astounded by the
unsavory propaganda that fouled up
the air waves the quartermaster
was serving angel-food cake at the
front; and every one was taking his turn
at K. P.-Honestly, the narrator said,
''every one on the company roster"
From the general trend of the con-
tinuity offered for civilian consumption,
one would think that the infantry had
become obsolete, that the atom had as
sumed all of the dirty work, that one
could occupy plush-bottom chair for
few years and then retire with gen.
erous monthly income. Fortunately,
this scheme is too preposterous to bear
much fruit, but that does not condone
it for, unfortunately, it bears the seal
Of the United States Government. The
Army which has won such great vic
tories in the field is now challenging
the integrity of the Nation which it
fought so hard to sustain. There must
be better way-even conscription.
JOSEPH T. REYNOLDS.