Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-01-29


BISMARCK NORTH DAKOTA,
done me by the American people In
thus expressing their conf dence III
what have done and what / have
tiled to- do. appreciate to the full
the solemn responsih ility this con
ifdence imposes on me, and I shall
do all that ii my power lies not to-
forfeit it.
ssE On the 4th of March next I shall
ha.Ve served three and a half years.
and this three and a half years shall
constitute my first sern. The wise
custom which limits the president to-
two terms regards the substance and
not the form, and under no circum-
stances will I tbe a candidate for or
accept another nomination. Z
In this connection the Washington.
Post prints what tt asserts is the
first authentic story of the circum-
stances leading up to the issuing of
the stat All the members Of
the cabinet were receiving returns
with the president. About 10 o'clock
at night, when It was obvious that
Mr.. Roosevelt's election was sweep
ing and overWheIm ming, he told the.
Posts authority that he intended
forthwith to issue a statement to the
American people expressive Of his
gratitude for the conflde nce they had
shown in him, and also TO assure
them. that, contrary to the claims Of
his adEersaries in the campaign, he
would not ibe a candidate to succeed
himself.
This gentle nan attempted to dis
sgade him from the course. He point
eG out that there was neither neces-
|sity nor occasion for 1T; that it was
beyond human ken for the president
to foresee what the condition Of the
country would be four years hence;
that there might be an actual demand
for his reelection by ali the people
In all the sections, irrespective Of
politics that the third4term talk OF
his adVersaries in the election had
done him no harm; and, finally, that
the people did not demand Of him a
pledge on any subject.
The president listened inpatiently,
nervously, petuIant1y to his friend.
and turning, he went into an adjoin-
ing room, where he dictated to a
.stenograph ers the statement that is
now being studied up and down and
cTossWise by all sorts and conditions
Of politicians in Washing ton. The
friend hlirriedly hunted UP John Hay,
who was also OF the White House:
party that might. Mr. Hay immedi-
5ate1y agreed that tne advice that
had been given to the president was
sound and correct. Moreover, ne
sought out the prestde lent, got him
away from the crowd and proceeded
to argue against his making the state
ment. But 1t was then too late. Mr..
Roosevelt had given the statement
to the press associations, and it was
at that moment being speeded to the
attermost parts OF the earth. TO Mr.!
Hay the president is represented as
talking 40 this way
sss1.r They He'd ON me III the campaign.
They accused me of being an i'm
perialist, dictator. a Caesar. j don't
want to be misund erstcod BY the
people. want them to know that
1 am to be their president in my
own right. There are certain reforms
I am determined to carry out. If Il
should be suspected of further presi-}
dental .anbitions my motives would
Pc questioned. my course would be-
hamp ered, aud the reforms I have In
mind be more or less discredited.
4 have tried faithfully TO carry out
arr. Mckinley, y policies, and for doing
this I have been subjected to assault
and belittiing arraig nment No man
can be free and independent In the
presidency who has designs upon an
other term, refuse to be placed IN
that position I,
AS the Roosevelt majorities contsn.
red to grow the third term was
the chief topic of discussion among
the presidents friends at the White
House that nigll Mr. Roosevelt
could not help hearing much OF It,
and although he insisted, whenever
fcsced hy the trend Of the converse.
ton, that rs statement was the wise
and proper course To pursue ~ that
lime, he did not forbid his gnests
~ farther discuss the thirhterm pro
position.