The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-07
Once More President Roosevelt
Asserts Positively +
That He Will Not Be a Candi-
date for President.
GRATEFUL AND so ON
But Somebody Else Must Carry
ON the Work.
Will Do All He Can to Help
Taft Win.

Washington, Dec. THE Washing
ton Star this afternoon prints the fol-
lowing concerning revival of the story
that Mr.. Roosevelt would accept a nom
ination for third term:
That cannot be. L cannot serve be-
yond the present term. I am grateful
to the American people for their kindly
feeling toward me, but somebody else
must carry on the work" These were
the plain, unmistakable words of Pres
ident Roosevelt today when ne was
told by a Pennsylvania banker that the
people of that state wanted him for an
other term. 1t is the plainest most d.
rect statement he has made in number
of months and is considered to per-
manently settle any doubt that may ex-
list as to his intention.
The declaration of the president was
made to Samuel Watts of Lewiston,
Pa, president of four. national banks
and still active in business at S6 years
of age. He was presented at the White
House by B. s. Warner of this city.
Mr.. Watts told the president that he
had made such a good executive the
people wanted him again and could not
afford to dispense with his services.
The presidents answer, quoted above,
was quickly and decisively made.
He Is for Mr.. Taft.
There are ample evidences that the
president proposes to give every as
sistance in his power to bring about
the nomination of Secretary Taft.
That will be seen in the moves he will
make from now on. To begin with,
President Roosevelt is showing de-
cided Impotence with Frank H.
Hitchcock and other federal office
holders who are alleged 10 be convey
ing the impression that the admins
tration is winking one eye at the
Cortelyou candidacy for the Republi-
can presidential nomination. The
president realizes from information he
has received that he is fast being
place in the position of disloyalty to
Secretary Taft and connivance at the
Cortelyou campaign. He is fatty de-
termined that this shall not continue
Enthusiastically. Federal office holders
who are supporting -CUrtelycu nd
talking against Taft now understand
that they cannot any longer do this at
the expense of the Presidents strong
regard for and loyalty to Taft. IF they
do not cease attacks upon Secretary
Taft, the president strongly intirpates
that there will be troubleJ (
The. information taken to the
president is that, Mr. Hitchcock, who
is the ackno wledged manager of the
Cortelyou campaign, has been telling
various Republicans, especially those
from the south, that the bottom has
been knocked out of the Taft boom
and that the president is perfectly will
ing that southern Republicans shall
give their backing to Mr.. Cortelyou.
What He Believes.
The straight facts are that the presi-
dent is by no means satisfied that Sec
retay Taft has lost any strength, has
no idea of deserving him for Mr.. Cortel-
you or anyone else, believes that he will
be nominated and elected and will
stand by him to the last. Because of
his personal relations with Secretary
Cortelyou and his regard for him the
president has thrown nothing in the
way of the movement for the secretary
of the treasury. He has let it run along
automatically sidestepping matters
that would place him in the position of
deliberately sitting down on the whole
thing. But he did not mean that his
diplomacy and his regard for Mr.. Cor
telyou should be mistaken by the Cor
telyou boomers holding federal offices
and used by them to do harm to Secre-
tary Taft. That is just what has fol-
! lowed however.
| Some of the Corte1you people have
| told the president that they can dc
nothing, for Secretary Taft in the south