Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1919 — AWAIT THIRD TERM WORD [ARTICLE]

AWAIT THIRD TERM WORD

DEMOCRATS ANXIOUS FOR WILSON TO MAKE PLANS CLEAR ON THIRD TERM ISSUE. - k ■ I Washington, D. ‘ C., July B.—• Many are the declarations and ’'Statements and informative arguments which opponents of the league of nations are expecting to hear from President Wilson, but what interests democrats in the national capital is whether or not the president plans to run for a third term. To them the league fight is a onesided affair with the republicans alone to be won over as the democrats are solidly behind the league. But the democrats, just as much as the republicans, are anxious to get ready for 1920 and want to rally behind candidates and get in on the ground floor. . „ Plenty of Candidates. Fortunately, there is no dearth of candidates. One morning' newspaper here today gave the impression that the presidential job might go a begging because the last revenue bill, by making the president’s salary subject to incopi® tax, virtually cut it from $75,000 to $49,000.. It used to be $50,000 when Mr. Roosevelt was in office and was increased just before Mr. Taft was inaugurated. The increase grew out of the high cost of presidential living which (included the maintenance of the white house and entertainment of guests, domestic and foreign, and a deeire to keep the president free from financial embarrassments that might effect his viewpoint toward individuals from whom he might otherwise be compelled to borrow. Tax Reduces Salary.

’Tis whispered that the reduction of the president’s salary by means of the heavy income tax has affected adversely men on Capitol Hill who hitherto have been- considered potential candidates for the presidency. It hAs become the fashion in Washington anyway for cabinet officers and others whose salaries have been ranged all the way from $12,000 per annum to a single dollar a year to quit their jobs because they could not afford to dive on such income, but rarely has anybody declined in advance to accept any position except possibly that of ambassador or minister because of the meagre stipend. Senator* Fight Shy. Men on Capitol Hill have year in and year out looked with covetous eyes toward the white house, expense or no expense. The story goes that some senators recently have confided to friends that “under no circumstances” could they .accept the nomination for the presidency. Invariably they IhAhre spoken of the large expense of keeping up the white house and conducting themselves as befits a president of a great country. • - Other senators, who are not accustomed to think in financial terms, and to whom the high cost of presidential living is a matter of no concern, have been cruel enough to suggest that it is a matter of sour grapes with their colleagues. Even before the argument arose, however, another group of senators interested in replenishing their own pockets by a good bet now and then, began wagering large sums of money that not a member of either the senate or house would be nominated to the presidency next time on any ticket. And that’s the status of things in the congressional cloakrooms. There are enough would-be candidates but none of them is believed by their fellow senators and representatives to have a chance. Most of the betting and gossiping coneferns, the republican presidential possibilities, for up to now the democrats have been timid about talking Of candidates. They haven’t known where President Wilson stood in the matter. That’s why an expression from him would relieve the democratic politicians of much worry. ' Of course, if Mr. Wilson wants to run, his hold on the Democratic party is such that no other democrat in or out of congress would care to make a contest for the nomination. But if, as seems most likely, Mr. Wilson should make it dear that he does not intend to run, the announcements of candi-

dacies will not be long delayed. Aside} however, from the personal aspects of the democratic presidential situation, there ere friends of the league of nations who think it would be wise for Mr. Wilson to make it absolutely plain by specific announcement that he has no ambition to succeed himself. They say his reception on the forthcoming western trip will partake of less partisan and personal politics u the president will announce that he is through with presidential politics and interested only in laying the foundations for a lasting peace. There is evidence that arguments I along this line have already come to Mr. Wilson’s attention and that | ' some expression, direct or indirect, i mlay shortly be expected which will show the country that his sole purpose in stumping the country is to bring public opinion to 'bear on the American senate for the benefit of the peatee treaty and the league of; nations.