The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-12
Statement Issued From White House. DEMOCRATS DECLARE
 THAT IT MEANS BRYAN New York Republicans Hopeful for
 Hughes. Representative Clayton Thinks His ResoIutio. Asmeked Out' the Decision of the strenuous
 E'xecative-Comments
 of Public

Roosevelt will not be a candidate for a third term. All doubt on this point was tonight dispelled by the, authori- tative statement from the White House that MT. Roosevelt still adheres to the declaration of renunciation on the night of the election three years ago.
 In the statement issued President Roosevelt says he has not changed and shall not change the decision commu- nicated to the American people, in 1904. It appears that President Roose- welt has been awaiting the call for the Republican National Convention to afford the proper opportunity for mak- ing his position clear and unmistak- able. thus leaving the field clear for Fairbanks, Taft. Cannon. Knox, For aker and othe ers declared or receptive candidates for the Republican nomina- ton.
 The announcement that the Presi- dent would not accept the Republican nomination if rendered, came at too late an hour to become generally known in political circles, but among those who learned of it-Democrats and Republicans alike--the feeling was general that it left no element of doubt in the presidential situation so far as relates to the third term talk and that it definitely eliminates MT. Roose- welt from the contest. Some Demo- crats. however, express a. belief that a f1oOSeFSIL SLaHnpeue m tHe ftopuDlI- can convention would shake his reso- lution, and that he would prove ne ex- ception to the historical precedent In that no American citizen ever refused a presidential nomination.
 "Elryan in q Waik.ss s7a sE-
 Administration Republicans declare that the announcement gives great impetus td the Taft boom, while the Democrats, many of the leaders of which are here, are shouting that tt means Bryan In a walk"
 speaker Cannon. when shown the Presidents statement. said:
 The President speaks for himself. It would be useless and inappropriate for me to attempt to interpret the Presidents words"
 Senator Foraker. the only other de- cIared candidate who could be seen to- night. said:
 That has been his position all the while. I supposej but I don't care to discuss the matter. thank you"
 Senator Hopkins of Illinois said:
 Tt Is in keeping with his character and what he has said from the start It shows him to be a patriot as well as a statesman, following. as he is, the traditions of Washington and Jeffer- son in limiting himself to two terms"
 Senator La Toilette said: While such announcement could be expected 1t was not expected to come so soon. l have no other comment to make at this time.'
 Senator Richardson. of Delaware. said:
 "I fancy the announcement will be pleasant news to several persons. need not name them; they are too nu- merous."
 Senator Hansbrough, of North Da- kota, said:
 There is no question at all about the Presidents sincerity at this time and before If conditions should de- mand his nomination the convention would nominate him and l do not see how 1t would be possible for him to decline, however earnest he might be-"
 Senator Long, of Kansas, said:
 The Taft boom will be the only one worth considering, after this announce ment."
 Senator Dick. of Ohio: Nothing else was to be expected"
 Handwriting on Wall.
 Among the Democrats who comment ed upon the Presidents statement was Senator Tillman who said:
 This is by way of documentary evil dence that the President has seen the handwriting on the wall It means that Bryan will be the next President of the United States. Roosevelt Is the only possible Republican candidate who could be considered formidable"
 John Sharp Williams, leadei of the minority in the House, said: ''I believe l am one of the few Dem ocratS in public life who has been say ing all along that the President would not run the third time. l believe he has too much Knowledge of history to run the risk of threatening Republican institutions with perpetuity of tenure fin the Presidency l also thought he | was a man of so much pride that even | if he had come to regret his after | election utterances he would still stand | to his word. I think the third term | issue would have made MT. Roosevelt | the weakest man the Republican party l could have nominated notwithstanding | the fact that he is personally the most | popular Republican in the country to- day" Representative Hardwick, of Georgia, said: "I think it means triumph for the | reactionary element in the Republican party and good chance for the Dem- ocrats to win.
 Representative Bartlett. of Georgia, said:
 Tt means a different candidate and a different platform. l think the Re- publicans will nominate a man on an entirely different platform and put into the platform those things which would not have been put in had Roose- welt stood for the nomination."
 Representative Richardson of Ala bama said:
 Tt is in accordance with what I al- ways have said of him. l did not be- lieve he would accept the nomination for third term"
 Clayton Influenced It. Representative Clayton of Alabama ' said: