The Washington herald., 1907-12-13


The gossip over the reasons which
prompted President Roosevelt to repeat
his third term Remuneration at this time
has been mostly sensational and ire
sponsibIe.
The acute cause Of Mr. RooseveIt's sud
den determination to "a second time de-
clare himself out Of the Presidential race
IS not clear. but it is evident that sew
eral circumstances more or less related
made him change his plan of postponing
any announcement until the latest date
possible with a consistent maintenance
of his original declaration that he would
not be a candidate
While the danger of being forced TO
make a second remuneration through the
adoption or discussion of Representative
Claytons anti-third term resolution is
understood TO have had some bearing on
Mr.. Roosevelt's unexpected repetition of
his election-night pledge. the belief on
the Presidents part that DEVELOPMENTS
in the Republican National Committee in
dicated that both the President and Sec
retary Taft were being placed in a false
position in regard to the Republican nomi-
nation for President. and that this con-
Gition was working a harmful effect
upon the Taft boom. had much to do
to bring out his statement.
Road Is Now Clear.
The road is now clear for the several
candidates to fight it out among them
selves
MT Roosevelt is understood TO be heart
and soul in the Taft cause. but il was
made plain yesterday that he would not
stand in the way OF any other member
OF his Cabinet who might have ambitions
to become President of the United States.
provided he was not the candidate of
interests opposed 10 the Roosevelt policies
Another consideration which helped to
influence the President in his determine
ton to end once and for all the third
term movement is in the fact that in the
last ten days or SO notes OF war about
the alleged political activity of friends OF
Secretary Cortelyou have been pounded
into the Presidents ears by supporters
Of Secretary Taft
Last night the town was fun of a story
that the President suspected misrepresen-
tation on the part of some OF the friends
OF the Secretary of the Treasury. that
they were making use OF the Presidents
name to further Mr. CorteIyou's boom
for the Republican nomination. In the
race OF this. there is evidence that there
has been no breach in the relations of
the President and Mr. CorteIvou
"PrepOsterOus,- He Says.
There are stories that Mr.. Cortelvou
had accepted the third term announce
ment as blow at himself and would re-
sign. Yet President Roosevelt declared
yesterday afternoon. in response 70 \
question. that rumor Of Mr.. Cortel-
you's resignation was ''preposterous
Mr.. Cortelyou indicated that he had no
thought of resigning.
. is known that the President does NOT
any break in his Cabinet and
% hold his present official family
II the end Of his administra-
stories have told that
.oosevelt had abandoned his
0ncerning the third term move
d was telling visitors. and par
: members Of the Republican ma
committee. when they were here
week, that he intended to adhere 70
letter and the spirit of his notable
.eclaration Of election night In 1904
1t now appears that the Presidents new
freedom Of speech on this subject was
due mainly to charges made to him Nv,
TAFT supporters. who were here in con-
nection with the Republican national
committee meeting. that Federal Office
holders in Washington were spreading re
ports among Federal officehoIders remote
from Washington that the President
would be candidate to succeed himself
ana therefore was not for Taft: and
among other Federal ohiceholders that
the President wanted Roosevelt delegates
sent 10 the national convention, so that
he could throw their strength to Cortel-
you who was really his candidate.
Taft Men Busy.
The Taft men forwarded these and
othA stories to Mr.. Roosevelt.s ear
They said that Mr.. Cortelyou was the can
didate of the ''reactionary interests" and
that the "reactioRary interests" wore
behind the movement in the national
committee to send the convention 10 chi
easo instead OF TO Kansas City. where
there was much Taft sentiment.
II might as well be explained M This
Juncture that not one scrap of evidence
was ever presented to the President 10
show that Mr. Cortelyou was cognizant
or any movement in his behalf. which had
as its basis the dissemination of the tdea
either that Mr.. Roosevelt would run again
or that Roosevelt was really for Cor
telyou, that is admitted. But the Taft
supporters apparently convinced the Pres
ldent tAat Mr. Cortelyou's friends were
lining - Federal ofhceholders and possi
be delegates to the next national con
Venton on the third-term proposition.
The President had heard sometblno Of
this before. and he had issued orders m
heels OF departments 10 forbid their sub
ordinates 10 advocate his denomination
or to accept membership on State delega-
lions 10 the national committee which
We're Instructed TO vote for the renomina-
ton
Hitchcock Called on.
Later he sent for Mr.. Hitchcock and
had a friendly talk with him. telling him
that he appreciated his CAIr. Hitchcocks)
support. but that it was not proper for a
Federal officeholder to be working in the
interests Of further political preferment
for the President The stories that the
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