Middletown transcript., 1907-12-14
ROOSEVELT OUT OF RACE, HE SAYS
Presidents Announcement Causes Z
Stir In WashinetOn

Stir In Washington
WASHINGTON, Dec. PIT was just
What we we're hoping he would say. Now
we will 60 ahead and win"-chorus of
m tnagers of the presidential booms Of
Taft, Cannon, Fairbanks, Cortelyon,
Knox, Foraker, Hughes and possibly .
few others, when they heard that Presi-
dent Roosevelt had repeated his declara-
tions Of election night, 1904, and had ab-
so utcIy put himself out Of the race for
1908.
The President issued last night the fol-
loving statement.
In view OF the issuance Of the call Of
the Republican National COMMITTEES for
the convention, the President makes the
following statement:
On the night after election made the
f. wing announcement:
Il am deeply sensible Of the honor done
me by the American people in thus ex-
pressing their confidence in what have
done and have tried to do. / appreciate
inlly the solemn responsibility this
confidence imposes upon me and | shall
do all that in my power lies not to forfeit
it. On the 4th Of March next shall
have served three and half years, and
this three and halt years constitute my
tirsl torn. The wise custom which limits
the President to two terms regards the
substance and not the form, and under
no circumstances will be candidate for
or accept another nomination.
81 have not changed aud shall not
change the decision thus announced"
Although the statement was expected
TO be made some time before the conven-
ton should meet, it came to-day as q big
surprise 10 politicians on both sides OF the
| fence. The hotel lobbies were filed to.
day MitL little groups Of Republicans and
Democrats examining the announcement
at every possible angle. The general be-
| liel expressed is that the President bad
been smoked out" but opinions differ
widely as to who was responsible for the
| smndge. Democrats say the visit to the
execu'iye Office yesterday Of John Sharp
Williams, the minority leader, was Rre-
sponsible. May republicans guess that
s.Uncle Joe" Cannon was at the bottom
OF it, for he called before John
Sharp Some give the Clayton anti-third
term resolution credit for influencing the
Presidents mind to considerable extent.
Those in the anti-administratio camp
seem to agree in declaring that the Taft
boom will more probably be injured than
benefited. by the move. So long rs the
President could hold lIis forces in reserve
by allowing his adherents to nurse the
belief that they might secure him for
their standard bearer in 1908. very pow
erful faction on the G. O. P. ii not good
working majority was bound to refrain
from declaring for any candidate.
and, when the crucial eleventh hour came
the Roosevelt hand might lead them into
the last corral. Ii he made declaration
puttirg himself finally ont Of the qnes-
ton, the President believed that biz great
personal following would scatter TO the
fpnr aiDds, because while some woulj be
loyal II was not likely that the came votes
"ould stand pat. So the aspiring anti
administration candidates cllafed under
tlie c.,lar placed upon them by the white
house.
Thr Washington Herald lIldependenrl
ii iis leading editorial says that the senti-
nseni merely emphasizes the Presidents
personal position and ssili leaves him in
The hands Of the peop'e. The editorial
predicts iiis and Bryan's- nomination as
the Two party leaders.