The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-26
Nominated, He Would De.
cline, Asserts One in
Close Relation.
Would Accept Senatorial
Ioga Of New York,
Thinks Friend.
BY n. G.. Stevens.

Washington, Aug. 2o.-Wh nile Senator
Tillman and other politicians, both re-
publican and democratic, are doing
what they can to foster the idea that
President Roosevelt will be a candidate
for denomination, and some Of the demo-
Gratis even insist that he Is working to |
that end in all he does, it Is q remark
able fact that not one Of Mr.. Roose-
velt' g personal friends takes that view.
By "personal friends is not meant
his political friends or those who have
come into life thru political assoc1a-
ton, nor yet those who are fond OF pos
ing as his friends and lose no emporium
ity to do 80. but rather those who have
season and out, for better and for worse,
known the president for many years, In
who knew him before he WAS q celeb
rity and since, and who have kept in
touch with him and understand his
character and his aspirations by reason
of undiluted familiarity Herewith.
Such friends Of the president are one
In saying that he is not only not cam
didate for denomination. but that If the
republican national convention in 1908
nominates him he will decline. f.
Won's Be Pot-Hunter.
''Theodore Roosevelt is aiming for o
hioh place in history,' said q, gentle
man who was contemporary OF the
president g at Harvard, discussing the
question in private conversation today.
II know he will not run for president
again, but even If I did not know 1t
could infer it Just as accurately from
nv knowledge Of his character and the
motives which impel him. Anyone
really knowing the man could think 1t
out for himself.
"In the first place he has made for
himself a great name in this republic.
He knows that as well as the rest Of US.
He is levelheaded, and has any amount
of common sense, and with it he has
good enough opinion Of Roosevelt to
know Just about where he stands with
the people Of this country at this time.
He wants to stand with Washington
and Jefferson in history as a great, un-
selfish lover Of his country, and he
knows he cannot do that If he becomes
a pot-hunter, which is exactly what he
would become If he allowed himself to
take another nomination.
t'He might still be regarded as q
great president, but only as president,
while he would lose that finer apprecia-
ton from those who will record the his
tory Of these times. He knows he would
no longer have any claim upon a place
among the real great men Of the United
States, but would simply rank in the
list Of presidents as zone of them.'
Would Cheaper Him.
"Now Mr.. Roosevelt g perceptions Of
this are not at all dulled by the atten.
tions Of those who would have him run
again because they think ~ he would
make victory for the republican party
suro. Not a bit Of 1t. He Is wei
aware Of how it would cheaper him
and I really think, altho perhaps.
ought not to say 1t, he would like to b.
renominated so he could emulate tn
example Of Washington and Jefferson
by declining. Possibly this is too
w-down view to take Of it, but at any
rate one thing is true. He would de
cline. -...s ''.,z'
"After his term Of office has expired
1t is his present intention to spend tw
years in hunting big game in Africa
to go to places where, as the felloy
said, tthe hand Of man has never Sc
foot before ...y.~s. .;... s'.a =
eff, about that time, the people O
the state Of New York should decide t.
elect him to the United States senate
he will be pleased and deem it an homo
to accept, but whether they do or no
am inclined to believe that, If his lift
is not cut short, Theodore Roosevelt
will yet achieve as great fame in tn
world Of science as writer on natura
history as he has in the domain of poi
itics. know, and other friends Of hi
know, that if he had not gone in TO
politics he would have long ago exerte
his phenomenal activities in writing o
the friends he finds and loves out il
the wilds.
GAS for the nominee of the republI
can party for president in 1908 ] hav
no reason to doubt that If it were lef
to Mr.. Roosevelt, it would be Williar
Il. Taft. He is so largely and con
pletely in sympathy with all the pres
dent has tried to accomplish that j
could hardly. be otherwise. Taft ha
worked with Roosevelt thru it all, an
1t the people indorse what Roosevelt
has done they cannot do better than t
pass the Office along to the Ohio ma
who is well equipped to complete wha
Roosevelt has commenced.