Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 September 1906 — THE THIRD TERM. [ARTICLE]

THE THIRD TERM.

A Momentonz Question the Voters Alone Can Decide. In spite of the declaration of President Roosevelt on the night of the national election in 1904 that he would decline a nomination for a third term and since then repeated authorized announcements by his secretary to-the same effect, there is continued talk of the Republican convention of 1908 renominating Mr. Roosevelt. As there is no law against it, although It has become the acknowledged custom of both parties, it is entirely a question of political propriety and can only be settled by the people. We have all become accustomed to believe that a third term for any man might lead him and the party he represents to lay plans for a fourth term. If a third or fourth term were secured, why not a fifth, and so on? A third term in the hands of an unscrupulous man, using all the enormous power granted by the constitution, which has since been increased by congress, would be an approach to a life term and might lead to a dictatorship. There are two ways In our .political system of defeating a third term. Its opponents in the party proposing it can defeat it, as General Grant was defeated, or the majority of the whole body of voters can refuse to elect electors pledged to vote for the third term candidate. If the Republicans wish to nominate Mr. Roosevelt and he accepts the nomination, it will be just as well to settle the third term question in 1908 as to postpone it until some more unpropitious time. The people are quite well enough Informed to care for their own future.