The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-08
PUT CONVENTION OFF
Tennesseeans Bow to Wish of
the President.
WANTS THEM ALL DELAYED
VIZ. HooseveIt's' Reported Denial Of
watts Interview Not "A Denial tina.
re Said what Is Attributed TO Him,
bur statement chat IL Was NOt Au-
thorized By Him for Publication.

(
introduced into the political situation yes
terday when i, became known that the
Tennessee Republican leaders had aban-
doned their plan of holding an early con-
vention in that State for the election Of
delegates TO tie Chicago convention, in
strueted FOR Roosevelt
If any member OF the Republican ma
tional committee or any other interested
person seeks to know what changed the
minds of the Tennessee leaders, ne may
perhaps find out by applying to Henry
Clay Evans and Newall Sanders. who
called on President Roosevelt yesterday
and talked with him for upward OF an
hour. Mr.. Sanders Is the Republican
State chairman in Tennessee. and Mr.
Evans is widely known rs a former gov
ernor and one of the present party lead
ers I'm that State
The President told the Tennesseeans
plainly that he hoped the State couven-
ton FOR the election Of delegates to the
! Chicago convention would not be held in
January as planned. and that It wOuld
in fact be deferred for several months
The leaders VIII accept the President
/
present plans for the Tennessee conven-
ton are or
Result Of Watts Interview.
In the minds Of politicians IN Washing
ton the White House visit Of Mr. Evans
and Mr.. Sanders which took place be
tween noon and o'clock was imme-
diately connected with the publication OF
a brief interview with Samuel Watts.
the venerable banker. of Lebanon. PA.
Mr. Watts whose hearing is good and
\ his reputation for veracity excellent.
quoted the President as having said 10
/ him Friday in regard 30 the question Of
/ a third term:
That cannot be. cannet serve be-
\ yond my present term. / ann grateful TO
\ the American people for their kindly
1 feeling toward me. but somebody else
must carry on the work
( Brainard II. Warner "A resident Of
/ Washington and Maryland who is a can-
didate for Congress from a nearby dis
trict. and was present during the inter
view, confirmed this literal version OF
what the President had said
From the White House there came a
semi-denial Of the interview, but reduced
TO its lowest terms this statement OF the
White House authorities does not dis
claim the report that Mr. Roosevelt said
what Mr.. Watts quoted him as saving I
II does Say substantially that the Presi- |
dent has said nothing FOR publication. and /
that his position IS not 20 be judged from f.
unauthorized Interviews The Watts in /
terview and the reported denial" from /
the White House involved the third term I
political situation in much doubt. and I
there was no surprise when the Tennes- /
see leaders appeared at the White House /
and We're in close conference with the 4
President for long time.
TennesseeRns' Plans Awry.
It was made known some weeks ago 4
that the Tennessee Republicans were
planning to hold their State convention
as early as possible after the December
meeting Of the national executive com
mittee, and that they would have the
distinction Of being first 20 elect in
structed delegates for Roosevelt 10 the
national convention Of 1905 Third term
enthusiasts like Senator Jonathan Bourne.
Of Oregon, have been looking forward
eagerly TO Tennessee's early convention.
declaring that If the President would
maintain silence FOR one week after the
election OF instructed delegates there il
would be ali over but thes shouting. The
country would know that Mr. Roosevelt
was willing TO accept another term. and
Republican conventions in other States
would instruct for Roosevelt in short
order
The Tennessee programme was COM
pietely upset by the Watts interview:
that is, assuming that the interview re-
ported truly what the President had said
AIR Evans and Mr.. Sanders wanted TO
know. They went TO the White House
and they found out Whatever the Presi-
dent may have said 10 them about the
question Of a third term Is not divuiged.
but that he did ask them 10 call off the
early convention is no secret
Wants Convention Put on.
Mr.. Roosevelt made il quite clear to j
several visitors yesterday that he does
not wish his friends TO hold their State
FOR the election of delegates Z
20 the national convention for some !
months 10 come According 10 his pres /
ent view, the later the better IL the !
meantime, II is reported, he viii have
nothing to say to the public about the
question OF a third term
The President also made Il known YES
terday that he thinks he has the situation q
well in hand and that he has headed off 5
the early convention idea in the South
pretty effectually. He talked freely with
some OF his callers in the morning and in
the afternoon about current politics, en-
phasiZing the declaration that whatever
he may be represented by visitors as say J
Ing. those representations are not 20 be
as authorized. Speaking Of vari- Z
)us political matters the President indi- S
Gated that while his present order regard
Of
Is instructed Roosevelt delegates would
stand, he could not expect and would not
attempt to control the actions Of other a
persons S
Cecil Lyon, Republican national com
mitteeman for Texas has let the Presi-
jel- know within the last day or two :
that he is going to Go everything in his 4
power to secure Mr., Roosevelts renomi- 4
nation. and has declared that he will not =
)e for Taft i
The Presidents comment in connection =
with this incident was that while he was =
not a candidate for a third term. he Il
friends as Mr. Lyon. who is NOT con- 4
lected with the Federal service in any !
way. J
incidentally, it also appeared from the :
Presidents conversation yesterday that n
he takes no stock in the ruinor that \
friends Of Mr.. Cortelyou engineered the
selection Of Chicago as the convention \
;ity, because they feared that To meet !
n Kansas City would be to help Taft. :
His Position Unchanged. S
Interesting as the days political de- =
'elopments were, there was nothing to
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