The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-12
NO THIRD TERM
MCKINLEY SAYS HE
DOESN'T WANT 1T.
WOULD NOT ACCEPT ANYWAY.
HIS STATEMENT A VERY CREDIT
ABLE ONE.

Too Many Questions of Importance
Before Administration to Have
Even a Suspicion of Third Term
Affect the Public Mind-His Only
Ambition Is TO Complete His Sec
Ond Term AcceptabIy and to Re-
turn to the Ranks as a Citizen.
President Told This to Cabinet
Monday Night.
Washington, June 11.-President McKin-
ley to-day announced that he would not
accept a nomination for third term, in
the following statement:
Il regret that the suggestion of a third
term has been made. 1 doubt whether l
am called upon to give it notice. But
there are now questions of the gravest
Importance before the administration and
the country, and their just consideration
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 settled conviction. that 1 not only
am not and will not be candidate for
a third term but would not accept
nomination for it. if it were rendered me
MY only ambition is to serve through
out my second term to the acceptance
of my countrymen, whose generous con-
tidence 1 so deeply appreciate, and then.
with them. do my duty in the ranks of
private citizenship
William Mckinley"
Executive Mansion. Washington, June
TO- 1901
Depew Drew Him Out.
President McKinley's official announce
ment this morning. disposing of the
third term idea, suggested by some of
his admirers, created no great surprise
among his friends who have known of
his deep convictions on the subject.
When Senator Depew's suggestion ten
days ago that the President should be
reelected for third term, began to be
seriously discussed. and when several
of the President $ friends felt called upon
to ndorse the idea the President decided
that the public mind should be instantly
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 broached the subject to Secretary
Long late yesterday afternoon He told
him he believed that an announcement a It.
the very inception of the discussion would
be wise and last night officially Informed
the members of the cabinet who had
been informally called together, of his
decision. 1t met with hearty approval
There was unanimous concurrence in the
belief that discussion of a third term
would not only place the President in
false light before the country if allowed
to go on, but would arouse antagonism
and greatly embarrass the administra-
tion in the solution of the great ques-
tions before it. The brief announcement
which the President had prepared was
given out by Secretary Cortelyou at noon
to-day.
Cabinet Endorses 1t.
After the cabinet meeting to-day one
of the members said they were unani
NOUS in their approval of the Presidents
pronunciamento regarding the third term.
The member pointed out that if the Pres
ident had allowed the discussion to pro-
ceed for any length of time, notwth
standing the fact that he has never en-
tertained even the most remote idea of
being a candidate for a third term, an
announcement similar to that made to-
day would have been subject to the mis-
construction that he had heen forced by
public opinion to give up an ambition
which he had never had.
The President is being deluged with tel
egrams commendatory of his announce
ment putting at rest all third term ru
mors. These kilograms began arriving
at the White House this evening and are
from prominent people throughout the
country. They place emphasis on the OPP
portuneness of the statement and the BEN
Efficient effect on the country from po-
ltical standpoint. None Of the kilograms
was made public