OCR Text |
Show THE ONE-TERM AMENDMENT. The paissago by the Senate of tho resolution offered by Sonator Works amendatory of tho Federal Constitution Constitu-tion by way of providing against tho occupation of any two nopuratc terms by any ono portion of tho Presidency of the United States, appears to have been a surprise to tho House. If it is true, as intimated in a dispatch in Tho Tribuuo yosterday morning, that tho llouso is not eager to concur in tho pat?-sago pat?-sago of this resolution, there- muct bo .oiuothing behind it ail th'tl; the pub-lie pub-lie act's not understand. Republican Sonatorp joined with DomocTatB.in passing pass-ing this resolution. Tho Houso is largo-ly largo-ly Democratic and doubtless Republicans Republi-cans would join with Democrats thero also in concurring with tho Senate in adopting thiB resolution. But it is Intimated In-timated that, tho House will he reluctant re-luctant to pass it, evidently on tho theory that perhaps President Wilson might, want to bo rc-olocted, and that tho Democratic party might want to reelect re-elect him. As to tho latter, wo think thoro need be no fear; tho Democratic party, if present signs go for anything, will not want to ro-elcct Mr. Wilson. And so tho House Democrats should proceed along their strictly party linos, and tho Ropublicana in vindication of honored precedent, and join with tho Senate in making this proposition a part of tho Federal Constitution. Tho Democrats necessarily are pledged to tho one-term proposition for tho Presidency. They havo won a great victory under tho pledges of their plat form, of which things one. If thoy now undcrtnko to repudiate, that pledge, it will be all tho woro for tho party; for then the people will not bo able, to know what part of- the Democratic- platform plat-form is considered binding by tho party, aud what is considered negligible. neg-ligible. Wo trust that tho Houso will get ovor Its panic on this proposition, and proceed pro-ceed without dolny to vote on this Works amendment to tho Constitution, which -will forover shut out such ambitious ambi-tious demagogy ns Colonel Koo&ovolt'n aspiration to a third term, and any such bad faith as would bo involved in tho repudiation of tho Democratic platform which pledged the party to ono term for any man in tho Presi- doncy. The path of honesty and success suc-cess iu this mattor is tHe path also of good faith and tho kcoping- of a fair pledge with tho country. |