Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-12
ROOSEVELT WILL NOT
ACCEPT DENOMINATION
President Issues Statement Which
Sets Al Rest All Doubt About
The Matter.
70 STICK BY FIRST DECLARATION
Under No circumstances win He
Allow His Name to Go Before Con.
vention-Now it is an Open Field for
the Avowed ana Receptive candl.
dates.
(ly Associated Pronsl

tiIy Associated PrcSS)
WASHINGTON, DEC 11.-prcs-
dent Roosevelt will not be candI-
date for a third term. All douht on
this point MAS tonight dispelled by the
nuthoritativcs statement from the
White House that Mr.. Roosevelt suIl
adhered TO the declaration made on
The night or the election three
years ago. In the statement iss,icd
tonight P-esidcn Roosevelt saws he
mas not changed aud shall not change
mo decision communicated To tho
American people In 1901. II appr;,ra
that the President had been awaiting
tue call for tho Republican National
convention 10 afford tho proper oppor-
UNITY for making his position clear
ana unmistakable and thus leaving
The field clear for Hughes. Fairbanks.
tatt. Cannon, Knox, Foraker. Cortel-
YOU and other decla ed or receptive
candidates fer tho Republican noml-
nation. The Presidents statement
follows:
On tho night after election made
the following announcements: II am
deeply sensible of the homo done mo
by tho American people in thus OK
pressing their confidence in what !,
nave tried to do. appreciate to inc
inll the firm Responsibility this CON
uence imposes upon mo and shall do
an within my power not to forfeit II.
oh the fourth of March next shall,
nave served seven and a half yeary
ana three and n half years constitute
my first term. The wise custom
which limits the p esidcnt 10 two
terms regards tho substance and not
The form. and under no circun stoncoa
VIII ] be a candidate for or accen,
another nomination.
II have not changed and shall NOT
change the decision thus announced
Eliminates Roosevelt From Situation.
Tho announcement that the Presl-
dent would not accept the Repub-
iican nomination If rendered. came
az too late an hour TO become gener-
ally known in political circles, hut
among those who learned OF il. Dem
ocrats and Republicans alike. the feel
Ing was general that it left no doubt
IN tho presidential situation. SO far
as relates TO tho third term talk md
that 1t definitely eliminates Mr.. Roos-
eve.t from the contest. Some Demo-
Gratis, however. express n belief that
a Roosevelt stampede In tho Repub.
iican convention would shake mis-
resolution. and that he would prove
no exception to the precedent that
10 American citizen ever refused a
presidential nomination.
Administration Republicans declare
that the announcement gives grear
impetus to the Taft boom. while the
Democrats. many OF the leaders OF
which party are here, are shouting
that 1t means BRYAN in 4 walk
Some of the Views Expressed.
Speaker Cannon. when shown The
Presidents statement said:
The President speaks for him.
self 1t would be useless and inap-
propriatc FOR me to attempt to In
tcrpret the Presidents words"
Senator Foraker. the only other
declared candidate who could he
sen tonight, said:
Tina; has been his position all Tho
while. but | cannot discuss the mat
ter, thank You"
Senator Hopkins OF Illinois. said
III shows him to be a patriot, as
we'll as Il statesman. following as be
does the traditions Of Washington and
Jederson in limiting himself to two
terms"
Senator Lafollo,tc said: "whIc
such an announcement could be OK
pectcd, Il was not expected TO come
so soon. have no other common,
i TO make nj this time
Senator Richardson OF Delaware
said: II fancy the announcement will
be pleasant ncws TO several persona
need not namo them; they a.e too
f, numerous"
Senator IIansborough of North Da-
kota. said: There is no question a,
! ali about the Presidents sincerity
at this time and before. If conditions
should dcmsud his nomination the
convention would nominate him, and
do not see bow II would be possible
for him to decline, however earncs,