The Washington herald., 1907-12-12

President Roosevelt last night
announced his unaltered purpose
not to accept a nomination for the
Presidency Of 1908. The announce
ment was in almost the briefest pos
sible form, except that he quoted
his own statement Of election night
in 1904 The declaration closed
with the following:
4 have not changed, and shall
not change, the decision thus an
nounced."
If any man knew of the Presi-
dents intention 10 make this decla-
ration at the present time, he kept
the Presidents secret well, for there
was no intimation that It would be
made for some time to come.
The President has told a great
number Of individuals during the
last few weeks that he would not
be a candidate for the Presidency
next year, and he reiterated this
declaration to certain members OF
the Republican National Committee
last week. It was said to be Mr..
Roosevelt's original intention to
wait until after the election OF the
first delegates instructed for him.
and then to issue a convincing dis
! claimer OF his candidacy.
Not Ready for Announcement.
The best information obtainabIe
as to the Presidents intentions
looking toward a third term has al
ways been that he would stand By
his declaration OF 1904, and that he
was simply waiting for his own
time IN which to reiterate that dec
laradon. As recently as last Sat
urday, however, It did not seem
likely that Mr.. Roosevelt would
make his announcement during the
present year; and It seemed more
than possible that he would, indeed
have deferred It until well into 1908
On that day he had an hours confer
ence with two Of the leading Republicans
of Tennessee and 1t became known thar
the President had asked them to defer
the holding Of their convention far be-
yond the date on which they had first ex-
pected 10 hold il. The President himself
said 20 a dozen visitors last Saturday
that he thought he had the Southern
early convention projects pretty well in
hand. and that none OF them would be
held very early ia the new year.
There was only one theory for the de-
termination Of the President 10 head off
the early conventions which ssned likely
TO elect delegates instructed for his uomi-
nation. That theory was-and FOR con-
frmation it lacked only the Presidents
statement IN SO many words-that he
wished to hold the political situation un-
der control as Ions as possible in order
that the "conspirators" against his poll
cies might be kept guessing as 10 his trus
position, and thereby prevented from con-
centrating on a reacdonist candidate.
Bare Statement Issued.
That was last Saturday. No informa-
ton IS vouchsafed at the White House by
way Of supplement 10 the announcement
issued by the President Just why the
President issued his third-term statement
last night is a matter for conjecture.
\ few days ago Representative Cgav-
ton. Of Alabama. introduced a resolution
in the House declaring it to be the sense
Of the American people that no President
| should accept a third term That reso-
luton WAS Identical with the resolution
/ introduced in the House in $50 by Rem
resentatlve Springer, of Illinois. 10 head
of the Grant third term movement
/ The Clayton resolution. though osten-
sibly made light Of by the Republican
leaders in the House, really caused some
| embarrassment. and it is known that tha
measure attracted much interest at the
! White House The resolution was talked
over at the first Cabinet meeting after
its introduction. and at the close Of that
meeting the text OF the Presidents dfrec-
| tons 70 Cabinet officers in regard 10 the
activities OF Federal office-holders was
given to the public as if to remind the
! people OF this sign that he was not a
candidate for reelection.
Speaker Cannon visited the White
! House yesterday. presumably at the re-
quest OF President Roosevelt, for the
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