The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-07-26
FOR A THIRD TERM?
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID TO
BE PULLING WIRES.
Indications That He 10 seerstiy Seek
Ing nomlnation--clalms of
William Jennings Bryan on
Democratic Party.

Democratic Party.
Is President Roosevelt secretly seek
Ing a denomination for a third term
In spite OF his repeated declaration
that he stands on his statement given
to the public on election night IN
1904? One can hardly believe the
| president would DO this thing, but the
evidence Is accommodating that he may
go back on his promises to the peo-
pie and 10 the aspiring politicians In
his own party. Nearly every promi-
nent man that visits the president
somehow comes away impressed with
the idea that President Roosevelt Will
try to succeed himself The genera,
reason given is that II is necessary for
him to again be candidate TO save
the party and to further carry out my
policies"
The most direct statement that has
appeared is by former Circuit Judge
Seldom p. Spencer at Omaha after re-
turning from Washington. He said
"he had been In conference with per-
sons authorized to speak the presI-
dents mind" Il think" said Judge
Spencer, Il am in a position to say
that the president has decided he can
not decline the nomination Il ten
dered him unanimously. He realizes
hts position would be weakened should
he at this time announce himself a
candidate"
II this is all true, and on its face
II appears to be. Il opens up a serious
question for the Republican voters to
again settle which was thought TO
have been previously settled when
Gen. Grant was refused a nomination
for a third term. Democrats are OPP
posed to third terms and no Demo-
crat, however popular or able, would
undertake TO attain what Washington
and Jefferson refused to consider.
There is a similarity between this
crisis In the history of the Republican
party and the Democracy, for the pro-
posal TO renominate Mr. Bryan as the
candidate for the third time, although
he was twice defeated at the polls,
verges on the third term issue. There
Is, OF course this great difference
that Mr. Bryan cannot use the power
Of the presidential Office to further his
ambition, while MIR. Roosevelt can and
is apparently doing so.
There is anothe; parallel between
the existing conditions In the two par.
ties, for there is a strong minority Of
the voters In each party opposed to
these two leading candidates. In the
case OF Mr.. Bryan experience shows
that the opposition in his own party
Is enough to defeat his election, and
Mr.. Roosevelt may find similar condl-
lions confront him If he runs for
third term and the Democratic candl-
date is one who can unite the voters
of that party
AS Democrats. we have no political
influence with our Republican friends.
They must submit to the Roosevelt
domination or fight Il. But We all
have voice in selecting the Demo-
cratic candidate, and the question OF
is a paramount one. Those
of us who admire MIR Bryan would be
doing him grievous injury to aid in
him for the third time,
IL he Is again TO be defeated That
would forever shelye him as FAR as
the presidency is concerned But In
the happy event OF Democratic sue.
cess his commanding position in the
party would probably result In his bo-
ing invited TO seat in the cabinet
and he would then be in line for sue.
cesslon. Every Democrat can judge
how little or much the opposition to
MIR. Bryan Is In his state or section.
but he must consider that the election
depends upon the close or doubtful
states, and there Is where a very small
determines results. For
instance, change OF one vote In
hundred would have defeated the
Democratic candidates for state eff
GERS In New York at the last election,
except the candidate for governor,
who would perhaps have also been
elected. If he had not been tho candl.
late of the Independent league, which
urned many Democrats from voting
or Mr.. Hearst, as the declarations OF
he league were viewed by many az
90 radical to indorse, and the league
vas the creation of Mr.. Hearst, and
lie was either the author or authorized
Is declarations.
A Put Tn job