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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1913)
mPSPifWP w wpfipjF, WJ -J -u ai I l K 'ffw fy jiinw-y- ;-&iipiarw&VMWW i FEBRUARY 7, 1913" tbnf Tin miiRt touch a snrinc which pushes the & sheet up the apace of one line and back to begin again, and as the printing ol tne new una goes on, the paper travels back another line, and so on till the page is completed. The" price is $100. " V THE homo rule proposition was defeated in the house of lords by a vote of 325 to 69. The result was expected, and the next house of commons, will, it is confidently believed, pass the bill. A Londondery, Ireland, cablegram, carried by the Associated Press, says: The Irish home rule party won a notable victory over the unionists in the election of a member of parlia ment for this city. A poll which was, as usual, a very close one, resulted as follows: David C. Hogg, nationalists, 2,699; Col. A. H. Packonham, unionists, 2,642, Majority, 55. The seat had been held since 1900 by tho Marquis of Hamil ton, who was recently elevated to the house of lords on the death of his father, the Duke of Abercon. The victory of the home rulers gives them a majority of members of parliament from the province of Ulster in the house of com mons. Extraordinary efforts were made by both parties to bring every elector to the polls and as a result of their exertions out of a total electoral of 5,462 votes 5,341 cast their votes. Many of the sick and infirm inhabitants wore taken to the polling booths in ambulances. Much fear had been expressed that the election would give rise to disturbances, owing to the Irish excitement prevailing in parts of Ireland on the home rule bill. A large force of Irish consta bulary had been drafted into service, but were not often called into requisition. The election was made more interesting by the fact that both the unionist and home rule candidates were pro . testants and Catholic inhabitants of London derry are almost equally divided, and by putting forward Mr. Hogg as a .candidate it was fore seen that he would carry some of the protestant homo rulers with him who otherwise would have abstained from voting, owing to religious 1 differences. The announcement of the result of the polling was followed by extraordinary RnenfiH. A deafenine tornado of shrieks, cheers and hisses broke through the crowd that was accompanied by tho firing of revolvers in the air while green and red handkerchiefs and Union Jacks fluttered over the heads of the crowd. Mounted police had to clear the way and escorted Mr. Hogg and Colonel Packenham to their hotels. The rival crowds came into con tact at one point. There was much stone .thrnwfntr and the. nolice were obliged to charge and disperse the people with their clubs. A SINGLE TERM FOR THE PRESIDENT In the United States senate tho Works single filx-year term resolution was debated at length originally Introduced by the senator from Jallfornia, the bill which is a constitutional Amendment, provided for one presidential term xr six years witn ineligibility to re-election or smy person who In tho past had held the office Ither by election or succession. Proposals for ro four-year terms, and one four-year term and ingestions that the resolution be so modified lat it would not affect Taft, Wilson or Roose- relt, were all defeated by big majorities. Friends f Mr. Roosevelt insisted that it was aimed at their hero, and they fought it - vigorously. An lAssociated Press report of the proceedings follows: "I did not believe anyone would insist that finis legislation -was aimed at Colonel Roosevelt," declared Senator . Cummins in advocating -tho rWorks six-year, single term amendment, "but it has been very busily urged throughout tho United States lately that we are legislating to : make Roosevelt ineligible. There Ib no truth in .i the reports, and I know they must be abhorent to Colonel Roosevelt." The declaration was .made by Senator Wil liams (democrat) that unless such amendments were adopted as to make RooseVQlt, Taft and Wilson eligible for another ferm, the friends of Roosevelt and others might oppose ratifica tion of the constitutional amendment by the states. "Whatever might be the motives of those who oppose the amendment," Senator Williams said, "they will be able to say to the people: 'They f are after -one man's scalp. He received more than 2,000,000 votes of the American people " and now they are trying to make him in eligible.' " "I think' it is of low plane to intimate that the resolution is being opposed because it might I, bar Colonel Roosevelt," said Senator Poindexter, The Commoner. progressive. "It la highly unpleasant to him and his friend to have this debate reflect thug on tho ambitions of the friends or opponents of the senators who voted on this resolution." Republican and democratic senators who urged Mr. Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson all made eligible for one more re-cletlve term, met tho opposition of the progressives and of some of their own party members. The progressives objected to a personal amendment that limited the right of voters to elect their president; they insisted that any provision made should apply to all men equally. The amendments by Sena tor Hitchcock to make the proposed restriction apply only to personj who have "held tho office by election after March 4, 1917, or discharged its duties for two years or more after that time" were defeated 32 to 27.- The senate then voted down Senator Root's amendment which was simply to make tho single term restriction tako effect after March 4, 1917. As a substitute, Senator Hitchcock proposed an amendment to let Wilson, Roosovelt or Taft have one six-year term under the new amend ment. "When we expect to exclude persons from its operations we are making it pntirely personal," declared Senator Borah. "We might as well name these three men in the amendmont as being exempt from its provisions. We .practi cally would bo amending the constitution for their convenience." Sonator Paynter then proposed an amend ment to make tho six-year term tako offect in 1921. Tho author of tho original six-year term indorsed Senator Hitchcock's plan. Senator Clapp, progresjive, took entire ex ception to the plan. "It is a reflection on the senate itself," he said, "in our saying that a great principle cr.n not pass this body unless three great partisan leaders are recognized and cared for in the legislation. I am not in favor of any limitation on the right of the people to choose their own executives," continued Senator Clapp, "but if a precedent is to be established, I regard it as trifling with the fundamental principles of gov ernment to recognize the present occupation and except the three gentlemen. I hold these three gentlemen in close friendship. If this change In our constitution is wise and if the limita tion is to be adopted, lot us rise to the occasion and apply it to every man." Senator Sutherland urged the adoption of the Root amendment setting March 4, 1917, as the date. This brought another protest from the progressive ranks, Senator Poindexter declaring if there was any danger of a man "perpetuating himself in offico" becauso of his "ability and popularity," as the friend of tho single term claimed that the danger should bo met by mak ing the amendment immediately effectivo. Senator Cummins favored and Senator Lodge opposed the exception of Wilson, Roosevelt and Taft. The proposal to exempt Roosovelt, Taft and Wilson suffered defeat in the voting down of tho Hitchcock and Root amendments. Tho senate then took up tho McCumber amendment, which proposed a limitation to two four-year terms with the qualifying provision "that no person who has served as president by succes sion of tho major fraction of one terra shall be eligible to hold more than one full term." Senator Borah declared this provision was the unwritten law that no president should servo more than two terms, and that It was not noces sarv to put that in tho constitution. Tho McCumber amendment was finally de feated by a vote of 61 to 3. The success of Napoleon and Caesar in estab lishing dictatorships filled a half hour of de bate, bringing up the question that the United States might face such a situation in tho future unless the extent of a president's service wero limited. "Why talk about Caesar and Napoleon?" asked Senator Owen. "Do you think that tho action of the people in those days, when thero was no telegraph, no telephone, no railroads and no modern intelligence, ought to bo used In this debate as a guide to our actions?" Senator Owen presented his amendments pro viding for direct popular vote on president and vice president and abolishing the present elec toral college, through which the presidential vote of the states is cast. "I believe that the electoral college will some day precipitate a crisis and revplution," said Senator Williams, supporting tho amendment, "because of the great power of personal action lodged in tho presidential electoral." Tho reso lution .wno dofoated, 35 to 32. An amendment by Sonator Ollvor to make tho slnglo slx-yoar term apply only to presidents elected after tho ratification of tho amendment wwi also defeated, 52 to 13. Those who voted in favor of tho direct voto for prosident were: Republicans Borah, Bourne, Bristow, Craw ford, Gronna, Kenyon, Jones, La Follette, Mc Lean and Townaend. Democrats Ashurst, Bryan, Chamberlain, Chilton, Culberson, Fletcher, Johnson (Maine), Martlne, Myers, Newlands, Overman, Owen, Perky, Pomereno, Shlvely, Smith (Arizona), Smith (Maryland), Swnnson and Williams. Progressives Clapp, Dixon and Poindexter. Thoao voting against tho amendment wero: Republicans Bradley, Brandegee, Burnham, Burton, Catron, Clark (Wyoming), Cullo; , Cummins, Dillingham, Dupont, Galllngei, Gamble, Jackson, Lodge, McCumber, Nelson, Oliver, Pago, Penrose, Perkins, Sanders, Smoot, Stephenson, Sutherland, Wetmoro and Works. Democrats Bankhead, Clarke (Arkansas), Johnson (Alabama), Paynter, Percy, Simmons, Smith (Georgia), Thomas and Thornton. Tho Works resolution passed the sonata February 1, by a voto of 47 to 23. The Associ ated Press report says: Tho language which it Is proposed to Insert in tho constitution in place of the first para graph of article two is aa follows: "Tho executive powor shall bo vosted in a president of tho Unitod States of America. Tho term of ofilco of president shall bo six years and no person who has hold tho ofilco by election or discharged its powers or dutloB or acted aa president under the constitution and laws mado in pursuanco thereof shall bo eligible to hold again tho ofllco by election." Tho resolution proposing the constitutional amendment now goes to the houso for its approval. If ratified thero by a two-thirds voto It will be submitted to tho legislatures of the states and will become effectivo whon threo fourths of tho forty-eight, states of the union officially havo approved it.' Tho adoption of tho resolution camo at tho cIoho of a three-day fight, In which repeated un successful attempts wore made to so chango it that it would not affect former presidents, or tho president In office when it may be ratified. An amendment by Senator Hitchcock, that would havo exempted former presidents and made tho new provision take effect March 4, 1914, was voted down, 4 2 to 27, and an amend ment by Senator Sutherland, to exempt the president in office whon tho constitutional amendment finally may bo ratified, was defeated, 28 to 29. Senator Williams made another effort to pro vide by amendment limitation for two four year terms for tho president with the provision that It should not apply to past presidents. Ho could not muster enough support, however, to secure a roll call. Senators who supported the single term reso lution on its final passage were: Democrats Ashurst, Bankhead, Bryan, Chamberlain, Chilton, Clarke of Arkansas, Fletcher, Gardner, Hitchcock, Johnson, Johnston of Alabama, Kavanaugh, Kern, Newlands, Over man, Owen, Paynter, Percy, Perky, Pomereno, Simmons, Smith of Arizona, Smith of Georgia, Smith of Maryland, Swanson, Thomas, Thornton and Williams. Republicans Brandegee, Brown, Burnham, Burton, Catron, Clark of Wyoming, Cummins, Dilllnghair Dupont, Gamble, Guggenheim, Mc Cumber, Nelson, Penrose, Perkins, Smoot, Sutherland, Wetmoro and Works. Against tho resolution: Republicans Borah, Bourne, Bradley, Bris tow, Curtiu, Galllnger, Jackson, Jones, Kenyon, La Follette, Llppitt, Lodge, McLean, Oliver, Page, Richardson, Sanders, Stephenson and Townsend. Progressives Clapp, Dixon and Poindexter. Democrats Shlvely. Mormonism in Utah in the last campaign was injected into the senate debate by Senator Poindexter, who declared President Taft had carried Utah only because tho church had issued a proclamation commanding members of the church to voto for Taft. ""Is that not true?" he demanded of Senator Smopt. "No, It Is not," returned Mr. Smoot. "Presi dent Smith made speechos and himself favored Mr. Taft's re-election, put ho issued no official communication whatever on the subject." iJmWh$$& i fcu&A& H s& iJ;.&taUiiUite-d