New-York tribune., 1907-12-19
CORTELYOU'S DENIAL.
WASHINGTON VIEW OF 1T.
Administration Mem Consider II
Withdrascal of Presidential
Candidacy.
from The Tribune Bureau-I

yyashinpton Dec 1s-Se.retary Cortelyou's
statement published in The Tribune this morn
ing. has been the chief topic Of discussion among
politicians to-day and it is generally accepted.
by friends of other aspirants. at least as
virtual withdrawal of his Presidential canoidacy-
In administration circles Mr. Cortelyous an
nouncement is accepted with entire complacency
and an utter absence Of that indignation WHICH
it has been stated in some quarters would FOL
low the declaration of the Secretary OF the
Treasury While Mr. Cortelyou did not consult
the President before giving his views TO the
public the Executive understands perfectly the
motives which actuated his course and appre-
ciates to the full the deep annoyance WHICH
must have been caused by certain exaggerated
statements which have found their way INTO
the public prints.
The view is entertained In administrator
circles that what is there interpreted as MI
Cortelyous virtual withdrawal greatly slrnplii'e'
the situation, leaving. in the opinion or those
close to the President, only one candidate IN .i0
field who can be regarded as represen'ins 'i0
no1icies of the administration. and only one
Cabinet candidate This must. il is seciareu.
serve to relieve a delicate IL not embarrassing
situation OF course. the President ana the
Secretary of the Treasury have understood eaC"
other perfectly, and had they oeeh ene Se
factors in the equation no embarrassment h9eu
have arisen but with friends OF Mr. Cof'eiSVu'
whose zeal outran their discretion ope' 1'i'7
perhaps unconsciously but not the less eiiee'-
ually. to nnuddie she situation, there We're m
tricacies which have been SreatS SiiiiP
Mr.. Cortelyou's course
Attention is also called TO the similarity OIL tHo
action of the President and Of Secretary Cortei-
-. 49,, !. bacar,a clear to the President that
oo+oi, indiscreet friends were so energeticaliy
oro,,otine the third term movement as 10 cred'0
an obstacle to the progress of Mr. rats POM
tcaI interests ~ President effectuaIiy SET an
third term talk at rest and eliminated h'iiiss-
hv issuing a public statement reiterd'iHs '7
determination under no circumstances 10 o0
a candidate for or TO accept another nominal
ton
WITH certain overzeaious friends Of Secretary
Cortelyou muddling the poiit1cai sltna'i'h a'D.
even seeking to place obstacles in the way '-
+bo candidate whom the President hopes anu
exrects 10 see nominated, Mr.. COrtelyou has seen
fit m issue a public statement which secretary
Taft's friends regard as eliminating MS hdiho
from further consideration
All talk of Secretary Cortelyou's reslgn1ns
from, the Cabinet is dismissed with inpatience
at the White House No reason IS seen WHICH
would irnpel the Secretary to such a course
and his announcement that Il shall Try as
have tried in the past. to conduct the Treas
,1rv Department for the benefit OF the people OF
the whole country and absolutely without regard
70 whether any action may take in the line
of nv duty may adversely affect my personal or
political welfare is declared TO furnish or
itself ample evidence of Mr.. Cortelyou's pur-
pose TO remain at his post.
Frank H. Hitchcock First Assistant Postmas-
ter General made the following statement:
have read Secretary COrteiyous statement as
published in the morning papers. / am sure
cvt-iT as a
Iaration Of a thoroughly sincere man II dlS-
poses of the charge that / have been N any
manner dislOyaI to President Roosevelt Tnae
charge is absolutely false; in fact. the Presl1enr
has told me he knows il to be false. do not
care TO discuss the matter further should
nzt say even this il not for the appreheIl-
sion tnat some people who unfamiliar with
the facts may be misled by the statements cir
CuIatP1