The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-12-12
NO THIRD TERM
FOR ROOSEVELT
THE FINAL WORD
President Leaves a Clear
Field to Taft and the
Others
OUT OF THE RUNNING
Unqualified Announcement
That He Would Decline
Nomination
NO CHANGE OF MIND
Holds to the Remuneration
He Made on Night of
Election
SPECIAL pIsPATcu 70 THE Call.

SI6AlAt< DiSEAlItt IL lf1E NAl4l4
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.-Prcs-
ident Roosevelt will not be a candi-
date for a third term. All doubt on
this point was dispelled by the authori-
tative statement from the White
House tonight that Mr.. Roosevelt ad-
hered to the declaration of renuncia-
ton made on the night of the cleo
ton three years ago. In the statement
issued tonight President Roosevelt
said that he had not changed and
would not change the decision deliv-
cred to the American people in 1905.
Tt appears that President Roosevelt
had been awaiting the call for the re-
publican national. conv to afford
the proper opportunity. for making his
position clear and unmistakable, thus
leaving She field clear for Fairbanks.
Taft, Cannon. Knox Foraker and other
declared or receptive candidates for
the republican nomination. The presi-
dents statement follows:
"on the night Of the election made
the following announcement
~ am deeply sensible of the honor
done me by the American people in
thug expressing their confidence in
what have done and have tried to do.
appreciate to the fun the solemn re-
sponsibiiity this confidence imposes
upon me. and shall do all that in
my power lies not to forfeit it. On
the fourth of March next I shall have
served three and q half years. and this
three and half years constitutes my
first term The wise custom which
limits the president to two terms re-
CARDS the substance and not the form,
and under no circumstances Will be
candidate for or. accept another NOM
ination.
u have not changed and shall not
change the decision thus announced .
President Roosevelts statemen,
aroused a hornets nest OF comment in
Washington tonight. 1t became public
late, but that made no difference; il
was over town in fash The hotel
lobbies were centers of political specu-
lation. Telephone wires were hot con-
meeting senators and representatives
with the newspaper Offices and CORE
spondents.
The general opinion seemed to be
that Roosevelt had succeeded in e1imi-
mating himself personally from the
coming race, but that he was virtually
as much a factor as ever by reason OF
his ability to swing a big vote for any
man he might choose as his successor
An immediate revival of waning
booms like those of Cannon, Knox
Fairbanks and La Toilette is notice
able already, but the effect of this en-
thusiasm is not expected to last long
Even with Roosevelt out of the race
the political headquarters is still in
the White House.
One reason why Roosevelt issued his
statement today. instead of waiting
longer, is that he will escape the i'm
putation that Secretary Taft begged OF
forced it from him. Taft is out OF
reach and it cannot be said that he
caused the president to speak.
1t is generally believed here that
Roosevelt wants Taft to succeed him
although the president has not made
this known publicly or officially. Tafts
chances are supposed to be better now
than with the doubt OF Roosevelt's can
didacy threatening him. It is certain
that Roosevelt has done nothing to dis
courage the belief that he is for TAFT
The solid south has been kept in
line by good republicans who believed
they were working for Roosevelt. IN
less the word goes down the line soon
naming the presidents choice this sec
tion is likely to become a free lighting
ground among the candidates. The rest
Of the country, judging from expires
sfons of public men here. will line IN
for or against Roosevelt or Roosevelt's
choice.
The drift IS believed 70 be toward 9
struggle between Taft and HusheA