The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1907-12-19
WHY THE PRESIDENT ISSUED HIS
SECOND STATEMENT.

statement last week that he would not
accept the nomination again. 1t was
generally understood. 1t is true. that
he would repeat this statement again
lust before the convention would meet,
If at that time 1t seemed necessary.
but no one expected 1t now. The sud
den decision and action Of the Presi-
dent has caused much speculation ana
the advancement OF many reasons as
to the cause. But the Washington Post
seems to be the first paper that has
gotten at the real bottom facts. 1t
says:
There is no doubt that the hand OF
the President was forced. and that ne
was compelled TO issue his statement
of Wednesday night to head off men
whom he believed were working for
the SUCCESS Of a candidate or candi-
dates inimical to him and his policies
and anta2onistic to the success Of Sec
rotary Taft From remarks dropped
yesterday at the White House by those
who in times past have been author
lied to speak for the President, there
is no doubt OF the sincere desire or
the President for the nomination of
his War Secretary.
A prominent member of Congress
yesterday called at the White House
to present a constituent OF his who
wished to pay his respects to the Pres
ident- He was not a politician, but
business man. He told the President
the people in his section of the coun-
try were sorry to learn of his state
ment: that they admired him and had
hoped that he would again be the can
didate.
well replied the President,
showing his teeth in that peculiarly
grim fashion he has when terribly in
earnest, 1T seems that certain persons
were trying to take advantage of my
silence, and thought it time to speak.
I can't permit any man to take an
unfair advantage OF me. l have now
reiterated my purpose not to be
candidate and that would not accept
the nomination under any circum-
stances three times, and, according to
the good old-fashioned rule. this state
ment ought to be accepted as final
and conclusive
There has been no intimation from
the White House whom 1t was the
President had in mind when he made
this statement. but there was no diff
Guilty in divining that the progress Of
the candidacy of Secretary Cortelyou
and the plans the President has beer
told have been made by the friends
of the Secretary of the Treasury, a.
of which are looked upon by the Pres
ident as hurtful to Mr.. Taft, convinc
ed the the President the time wa:
at hand when he must let the coun
try know just where he stood. Wheth
er the President will make any sub
seQuent statement beneficial to Sc.
rotary Taft after he arrives in Wash
ington from abroad remains to b.
seen.
1T Is believed that If the PresideE
can see his way clear to do this with
out producing friction in his Cabine
he may do so. But it was pointed gu
yesterday by a personal friend of tn
President that there would be way
opened through which the Prcs!den
can tell the country what he want
tbs Republicans to know, and that 1
that the nomination of Secretary Taf
will be accepted by him as an in
do-semeDt of his policies and a guar
anIee of their perpetuation.
This person, analysing the variou
Candidates whose names have beel
mentioned, yesterday declared III
President held to the opinion tha.
Vice President Fairbanks would no
do for a candidate. as he was under
stood to be too friendly to corpor 4
tons; that Gov. Hughes must be pu
in the lis- of reactionaries on nc ;pun
of his veto of the 2-cent fare bill !;
New York, a veto which it is elaine
would lose him several of the Wester
States; that Senator Foraker coui
not be thought of, as he was of tn
reactionaries the most violent; tina
Secretary Cortelyou might be charge
with being too closely allied with tn
financial interests of Wall Street. an
lIldl his liluOTSeInenI Dy 1nISTSS
might weaken him; and that Speake
Cannon, also, must be classed as a re
dictionary because of his opposition
some of the Presidents well-know
policies.
According to this authority, tn
President therefore finds in Secretar
Taft the only man who is availabl
the only man who is absolutely loys
to his policies whose record is una:
sailable, and in whom the people coul
feel safe that the Roosevelt policit
would be pursued without fear or fl
vor. This is the Presidential view {
the respective candidates now in til
field, and doubtless the President wi
find some way during the progress
the race to make these views know
to the American people"
The long and the short of the ma
ter seems to be that the President hs
recently discovered that some of til
men who have been most loudly d.
claring their loyalty to him and to h
policies have been working under COZ
er with his enemies.
He learned something of this at tt
recent meeting of the National Com
mittee, when some members, especia