The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-12-20
Was in Difference to Wishes OF
the Average American.
Mr.. Roosevelt Does Not Be-
lieve in Third Terms.
From Tuesdays Daily.

Post, sends his paper an interesting
story relative to President Roosevelt's
determination not to be candidate
for the denomination. Mr.. Clarke, 1T
seems, had several interviews with the
executive, and the correspondent weaves
into his article proof that the presi-
dent meant what he said:
Washington, Dec. lat may be of
interest to the country to know defin-
itely upon what it was that President
Roosevelt based his determination not
to 'be a candidate for or accept an
other nomination" His position in the
matter was unvarying from the mo-
ment that he made his first announce
ment on the night after the election
three years ago. He was accused time
after time of having changed his mind
and of being on the point of yielding
to the third-term temptation, but all
the while he was standing fast.
Last winter your correspondent learn
ed once and for all that there was no
possibility that the president would
take back the promise once made the
people that he would not again either
seek or take a nomination.
Proof of Determination Given.
For eight months 1 have known the
practical impossibility of any change of
determination on the part of the presi-
dent. For obvious reasons l could not
tell the story, nor could l do anything
except stand contently in what wrote
by the main proposition that despite
all rumors and all seemingly well au-
thenticated stories, there was to be no
departure by the president from the
intent of his statement in November,
1904.
1 am at liberty now to tell the story,
story that 1 think will prove to
others as it proved to me that Mr..
Roosevelt never weakened for a mo-
ment in his determination not to be a
candidate again.
One night last winter l went to the
White House to talk to Mr.. Roosevelt
on subject which later led to the
publication of an interview with him
which wrote and called Roosevelt on
the Nature Fakirs,' an interview which
aroused some interest and considerable
comment. Nature, particularly bird
nature, was the chief sub ect of discus
sion that night, but / wanted to know
about something more important to
many people than ornithology.
Asks Purposes of President.
So with graceless bluntness 1 ask
ed Mr.. Roosevelt about the second
elective term matter and said that I
wanted to know if his determination
not to run again was unalterable, and
if so, why it was that he had made up
his. mind not to take another nomina-
ton for the presidency.
The president did not answer me at
once, but he led me to the farther end
of his library, where on a low book
case there was cartoon. 1t was the
original drawing of a cartoon which
had appeared in The Chicago Chronicle
and the name "Lowrey" was signed in
the lower righthand corner.
Mr.. Roosevelt told me to look at the
picture. 1t represented farmer, not
the farmer of caricature, but a plain
sensible, intelligent looking man of the
SOIL who was sitting in an easy-chail
in his stocking feet before a blazing
fire. The farmer was reading news.
paper, and in great headline across
the top of the page ran the words
"Te Presidents Message" Under
meath the cartoon were the words, ellis
Farvorite Author"
Defers to Will of People.
The president said, and though / an
quoting his words from memory, I an
quite sure that I have retained them
almost exactly, and certainly have re
tanned the spirit of their meaning:
"This is my favorite cartoon. The
man sitting before the fire represents
the mass of the American people, cal
them the plain people or the common
people if you will. He is stable minded
and patriotic. He does not believe il
the violence which has marked thu
things done by some men. On thu
other hand, this man will stand by on
VINO attempts TO cure Ine Ills Wnlcl
spring from the abuse of power gained
by wealth wrongfully acquired. Thi
farmer, again, represents the masse
of the American people.
"You have asked me about the mat
ter of seeking another nomination. lie
me tell you this man would not like it..
Leaves No Doubt of Sincerity.
If this statement of President Roose
welt, while not having tenth tn
directness of his public statement mad
on the night after the election, wa
not ten times the stronger, then action
sentiment and words have lost al
their force. 1t was enough for me, an
/ knew from that moment that nothin
eoHld move Mr.. Roosevelt one inc
from the position that he took whel