Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-09

a number of United States Senators in |
succession have recently announced |
soon after interviews with President |
Roosevelt that they were heartily in
favor of his recollection, and this fact
is held by friends Of the President to
give the appearance of an effort on
the part of the administration to per-
petuate itself. Senator Elltins of West |
Virginia, Senator Bourne of Oregon,
Senator Burkett of Nebraska and
others declared for third term in in
tervews soon after visits to the White
House. and the peculiar thing about
Senator Burketts statement is that
he privately told a friend about the
same time the President had personal
~ Informed him that under no civ
cumstances would he accept re-elec-
ton.
President Roosevelt is said to feel
that a good deal of this hirdterm
talk is part of reactionary movement
to prevent the carrying out of his
policies in the administration of his
successor. HIS idea is said to be that
most Of these men know very we'll he
would not accept third term, so they
will try to get delegations for Roose-
Welt and when It is discovered he is
firm on this point, their delegations
can be manipulated and turned over
to reactionary candidate.
Another reason why President
Roosevelt feels that new statement
is required by existing conditions is
that he Is told by a number of his
friends that as long as this third term
boom goes on it will be impossible for
any other candidate to make progress.
It Is held that while things are SO un-
settled in the popular mind local poll
ticians are not likely to come out for
Taft or Hughes or any other candidate
for fear of getting caught later on.
IT must be admitted that there is
considerable force to this latter
statement. There IS a general feeling
that many people want president
Roosevelt for another term, and there
are comparatively few who want the
policy of holding down the trusts
the experienced politician is not like
ly to take a pronounced position for
any other candidate, when he feels
that after all President Roosevelt
may be renominRted.
If President Roosevelts position is
correctly stated, it is certain to be n
difficult matter to distinguish be
tween those who sincerely favor a
third term and those who are using
third term boom, as he holds, for the
purpose of securing delegations who
later on can be thrown to some reac-
| tionary candidate. 1t can readily be
seen how this uncertainty might hand
leap any effort on the part of the
administration to turn the tide of sup
port to candidate who would con-
|
ing carried out with reference to tho
control OF corporations.
According to private advices there
is a feeling among New York politi-
clans that the way is being prepared
for the election of Mr. Roosevelt to
the United States Senate after he re-
t1,;r t.
the case there may be reasons in ad-
dition to reluctance to try a third
term that lead him to decline a renom-
nation. Senators Plat and Depew
are both well advanced in years and
| either one is liable to drop out at any
time. If young and vigorous and able
men like Governor Hughes and eX-
Governor Black were to succeed to the
Senate for example 1t might be a diff
ficult matter to dsplace them for
many years to come, Hence If Presi-
dent Roosevelt is to go to the United
States Senate, it is natural that mis-
friends should pick out the succession
to one of the present senators as the
psychological time. In the third place
Mr.. Roosevelt would go into the up.
per branch Of Congress with all tho
prestige gained in the White House
where as II he were to wait six oil
twelve years. the situation might b,
different.
, Another point of view is that Presi
dent Roosevelt will be faced in thu
| national convention by a situation no
unlike that which resulted in hi
! nomination for the vice presidenc,
despite his protestations that he woul,
, not accept the place. prefering anothe
( term as governor Of New York am
that be will be compelled by the fore
! Of circumstances to accept.
AS we have already said, host o
. people both republican and democrat
unquestionably want to see Presiden
Roosevelt renominated, but If he i
v determined not to accept recollection
( under any circumstances and keeps oil
saying so, devoting his efforts in tn
e meantime to the strengthening o