Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-06-15
TWO TERMS ENOUGH.
Movement for Third Presidential
Term Is Killed.
President Mckinley Announces EN-
phaticalIy That He Will Not Ac-
cept q denomination if
rendered Him.

Washington, June 12.-President
Mckinley on Tuesday put an effectual
quietus on the third-term talk which
has gained some currency in the news
papers through interviews with GER
tain well-known republicans, favoring
the denomination of the president for
a third term. Shortly before Tues
days cabinet meeting adjourned,
Secretary Cortelyou gave to the press
a signed statement by the president
intended for the American people, an
nouncing that he was not a candidate
for a third term, and would not ac-
cept denomination if one were ten
dered. A decision to issue such
statement was reached Monday night,
when the president read to the mem
bers of the cabinet his proposed state
ment, at the same time personally
pledging each to secrecy until public
announcement was made. The cabi-
net, on hearing the reasons the pres
ident advanced, which are substantial
ly set forth in. the public announce
ment, namely, that talk of a third
term would react on the national poll
cies the administration is endeavoring
to promote, conceded with the view
of their chief that the present was an
opportune time for its promulgation.
The phraseology of the announcement
was considered further by the cabi-
net Tuesday, and, after a change or
two from Monday nights draft, Sec
rotary Cortelyou was directed to make
it public. The presidents intimate
personal and political friends later
expressed themselves as not surprised
at the decision announced, but quite
generally conceded that they had not
expected such an announcement at
this time, thinking that the president
would not so quickly take heed of the
third-term gossip. They said, how
ever, that they believed the president
had shown his quick and excellent
political judgment by crushing the
thirdterm movement in it's very
birth.
The Statement.
Following is the text of the presi-
dents statement on the third-term
question:
81 regret that the suggestion of a third
term has been made. l doubt whether
am called upon to give it notice. But there
are now questions of the gravest impor-
lance before the administration and the
country, and their just considera ton
should not be prejudiced in the public
mind by even the suspicion of the thought
of third term In view therefore of the
reiteration of the suggestion of it, | will
say now, once for all, expressing a long
hat 7 of only nj
and will not be a candidate for a third
term, but would not accept a nomination
for it If it were rendered me.
My only ambition is to serve through
my second term to the acceptance of my
countrymen, whose generous confidence l
so deeply appreciate, and then with them
to do my duty in the ranks of private citi-
zenship.
civilian NJ KINLEY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, June 10,
His Course Commended.
The president already is being
deluged with kilograms commenda-
tory of his announcement putting at
rest all third-term rumors. These tel
egrams began arriving at the white
house Tuesday evening, and are from
prominent people throughout the
country. They place emphasis on the
opportuneness of the statement and
the benefcent effect on the country
from a political standpoint. None of
the kilograms was made public.
Cabinet in Consultation
President McKinleys official an
nouncement Tuesday morning dispos-
ing of the third term idea suggested
by some of his admirers has created
no great surprise among his friends,
who have known his deep convictions
on the subject. When Senator De-
pew's suggestion ten days ago that
the president should be reelected for
a third term began to be seriously dis
cussed and when several of the pres
ident's friends felt called upon to in
dorse the idea, the president decided
that the public mind should be in
stantly cleared of even the suspicion
that he was seeking to break down the
precedents of the past by becoming
a candidate for another term.
He preached the subject to Secre-
tary Long late Monday afternoon. He
told him he believed that an an
nouncement at the very inception of
the discussion would be wise and Mon
day night officially informed the mem
bers of the cabinet, who had been in
formally called together, of his de-
cision. 1t met with hearty approval.
There was unanimous concurrence in
the belief that discussion of third
term for the president, if al
lowed to go on, would not only place
the president in a false light before the
country, and would arouse antagon-
ism, but would badly embarrass the
administration in the solution of the
great questions before it.