The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-07-06
AFRAID TEDDY WILL
Want d TaIRO TERN.
Some Republicans Want Roosevelt
to Allure 1908.


President Roosevelt has the Republi
can nomination and strong chances OF
election, there are several gentlemen
in the party who profess concern about
his intentions in 1908. It is hardly
necessary to mention that they are
the republicans who themselves have
an eye on the nomination. Their
hands were seem ssin the manipulations
at Chicago last week for the Vice
Presidency. They are now setting
about to secure some declaration
from the President, if possible, that
he does not intend, il elected in Nov
ember, to be candidate again.
IF elected, Mr.. Roosevelt will have
had seven and 8 half years in the
White House. In 1908, strictly speak
ing, he would not have had the tradi-
tional two term in Office, all that any
American has ever been honored with
by the people. As no Vice President
has ever succeeded to the Office of
President and then been nominated in
his own right, the' question Of his
denomination might become very ear,
nest one. His case would differ some
what from the case Of Grant, and Like
wise from the case of Cleveland, for
whose selection as the Democratic
candidate there is now considerable
support. By the time the next Repub-
lican national convention meets Mr..
Roosevelt will still lack several months
Of being fifty years old. He will be
in the prime Of life, and should his
administration continues.5o be popular
it would be a most potent factor with
the people and with his party.
Might not his ambition impel him
to seek still another term? eTnat is
what the Presidential aspirants fear,
and even while the campaign is just
beginning, they are talking among
their friends how to obtain some pos
tive assurance on the point from the
White House. They reason that II the
President should get denomination
in 1908 it would blast all their Presi-
Dental hopes. In these strenuous
times there is an age limit beyond
which the people will not go in select
ing their Presidential candidates.
Senator Fairbanks, who was hailed
at Chicago by some Of his admirers
as the logical successor of Roosevelt IN
1908 will by that time be fsty-six
years of age: by 1912 he would be six
ty, but it would be a long time to wait
and time does not always xavor an as
pirants chances.
Then there is the Secretary of the
Treasury, Mr.. Shaw, who is known
to have the Presidential bee. 1t will
be remembered that he stuck closely
to last weeks convention at Chicago,
kept himself much in the view Of the
delegates. and had an eye out for
everything going on that could have
bearing on the contest four years
from now. The Secretary is now al
most ffty-six, but by 1912 be would
be sixty -four, an age probably too
advanced for presidential nominee.
Senator Foraker is one of the emil
nent Repu blicans interested in, the
question, for he, too, has been spo-
Ken OF in connection with the Presl-
Dental Office, and is known to cherish
some ambitions in that direction. By
1908 he will be sixty two, and could
have little hope of winning nomina~
tion at any convention subsequent to
that.
Gov. Odell, of New York, who is
said to be inflicted. with a Presiden-
tial longing more than any of the
Others already mentioned is now fifty
years old. He is known to view
with impatience any prospect that
the lists might not be open before
1912. He would still be eligible as
to age, but next January the Cover
nor goes out Of Office.
Ex- Secretary Roos is zoo loyal to
President Roosevelt t. have hand
in any efforts to ascertain his inten-
tions as to the campaign of 1908. Mr.
Root Id often been spoken of as fu-
true Presidential possibility. He is an
older man than he looks, being now
several months past ffty-nine. He
would hardly be eligible after 1908,
While the movement to ascertain
the Presidents intentions is still in
embryo, enough has been heard to in
dicate that the question will be pres
sed to the front by the Republicans
most interested. They will move, of
course, under cover, but with no less
determination on that account.
Fewer gallons; wears longer; Devoe.