The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-12-20
THIRD TERM TALK
Ended by President Roosevelt Re-
Peatlng What He Said
ON ELECTION NIGHT.


dents Announcement that He vii
Under No circumstances Stand fol
Reelection as the Candidate OF th,
Republican Party.
President Roosevelt will not he
candidate for third term. Al
doubt on this point was dispelled
Wednesday by the authorized state
nent from the White House that Mir
Roosevelt still adhered to the declar-
alton made three years ago. In the
statement issued Wednesday Presi-
dent Roosevelt says he has not
changed and shall not change the de-
cision communicated to the public
In 1904. The Presidents statement
follows:
On the night after tho election
made the following announcement.
I am deeply sensible OF the honor
done me by the American people in
thus expressing their confidence In
what / have tried to do. ! appreciate
to the full the solemn responsibility
this confidence imposes upon me and
shall do all that in my power lies
not to forfeit 1t. On the fourth Of
and q half years, and this three and
half years constitute my first term
The wise custom, which limits the
President to two terms regards the
substance, and not the form, and
under no circumstances will be a
candidate for or accept another NOM
nation have not changed and
shall not change the decision thus
announced.
Express Their Views.
The announcement that the Pres
ident would not accept the Republi-
can nomination if rendered came at
too late an hour to become generally
known in political circles, but among
those who learned Of it.-Democrats
and Republicans alike-7-the feeling
Was gaileTa. thaJ lI let - tsemeDt Of
doubt In the presidential situgtion,.
SO far as it relates to the third term
talk. and that it definitely eliminates
Mr.. Roosevelt from the contest.
Some Democrats, however, express
belief that Roosevelt stampede in
the Republican Convention would
shake his resolution, and that he
would prove no exception to the his
torical precedent in that no Ameri-
can citizen ever refused a Presiden-
tial nomination.
Administration Republicans de-
clare that the announcement gives
great impetus to the Taft boom,
while the Democrats. many OF the
leaders of whom are at Washington.
are shouting that it means Bryan
in a walk"
Speaker Cannon says the President
speaks for himself and it would be
inappropriate for him to interpret
his words. Senator Foraker dcclin-
ed to discuss the matter.
Senator Hopkins said it shows him
to be patriot as well as states
man, following as he is the tradi
tions Of Washington and Jefferson
in limiting hisself to two terms
Senator La Toilette said "Whilc
such an announcement could be eX
pected it was not expected to come
SO soon. / have no other comment
to make at this time"
Representative Richardson of Ala
bama, said. "It is in accordance with
what have always said Of him.
did not believe he would accept the
nomination for a third term
Means Bryan Says Tillman.
Among the Democrats who com
mented on the Presidents statement
was Senator Tillman, who said:
This is by way Of documentary
evidence that the President has seen
the handwriting on the wall. IT
means that Bryan will be the next
President Of the United States.
Roosevelt is the only possible Re
publican candidate who could be
considered formidable"
John Sharp Williams said 81 be-
lieve am one Of the few Democrats
in public life in the country who has
been saying all along that the Pres
ident would not run for a third
time. I believe he had too much
knowledge Of history to run the risk
Of threatening republican institutions
with perpetuity OF tenure in the
Presidency. also thought he was
man OF SO much pride that even If
he had come to regret his after-ciec-
ton utterances he would still stand
to his word. / think the third term
Issue would have made Mr.. Roose-
welt the weakest man the Republican
party could have nominated, not
withstanding the fact that he Is per
sonally tho most popular Republican
in the country to-day"
Representative Hardwick, Of Geor.
Pia, said: 81 think it means q tri
umph for the reactionary element in
the Republican party and a good
chance for the Democrats to win"
Representative Bartlett, Of Geor
gla, said: at means a different can
didate and different platform.
think the Republicans will nominate
man on an entirely different plat
form and put into the platform thos,
things which would not have beer
put In had Roosevelt stood for tn
nom I'm a Hon -