Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
aElTERATEs DECLARATION OF
NIGHT AFTER ELECTION.
LEAVES A CLEAR FIELD
Declares He Has Not Changed and
viii Not Change the Position He
Took When Elected Three Years
Ago--Makes No Choice of Sue
csssor.

vention. the president makes the fol-
lowing statement:
The night after the last election
made the following announcement:
!" i am deeply sf.7sible of the honor
done me by the American people in
thus expressing their confidence ia
what have done and have tried to
Slp appreciate to the full the solemn
responsibility this confidence imposes
upon me, and / shall do all that in my
power lies not to forfeit it. On the
fourth of March next I shall have
served three and half years, and
these three and half years consti-
tute 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 candidate for or accept an
other nomination
4 have not changed and shall not
change the decision thus announced"
No Surprise for Bryan.
Lincoln, Neb., Dec. 12.-When toll
last night that President Roosevelt
had made a positive declaration that
ne will not be a candidate for third
term, w. ]. Bryan expressed no sur
prise. He declared the position of
the president was as he expected.
Bryan said:
Il have assumed from the begin
ming that President Roosevelt would
not be a candidate. The statement
he issued the night of the election
left NO room for misunderstanding,
and / have felt that his friends were
doing him an injustice in suggesting
that he would change his position on
the subject"
Took Him at His Word
New York, Dec. 1.-THE official
announcement froh the white house
that President Roosevelt would I'D.
here to his earlier declaration not t.
accept denomination was received
with interest but hardly with sur
prise by party leaders here. The
president generally had been taken
at his word and those in whose po-
litical Judgment more confidence is
felt had anticipated the statement.
While it was pointed out that the
argument that the president might
by sheer force of circumstances, be
compelled to accept a third term
nomination against his will, was as
potent as ever, the consensus of
opinion among party leaders seen
was that Roosevelt's clear cut and
decisive language had taken him out
of the situation.
1t was generally agreed that p4s
elimination of Roosevelt's name
brought that of Governor Hughes as
New York's candidate sharply to the
front
Remove All Doubt.
The announcement that the presi-
dent would not accept the republican
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, the feeling
was general that it left no element
of doubt in the presidential situation,
so far as relates to third term talk,
and that 1t definitely eliminates
Roosevelt from the contest. Some
democrats, however, express the be-
lief that Roosevelt stampede in the
republican convention would shake
his resolution and that he wo"ll
prove no exception to the historic
precedent that no American citizen
ever refused the presidential nomina-
ton.
Causes Much Jubilation.
Administration republicans declal e
the announcement gives great impe-
tus to the Taft boom, while the demo-
Gratis. many leaders of which party
are here to attend the meeting of
the national committee today, are
shouting that it means Bryan in a
walk"
Speaker Cannon, when shown the
presidents statement, said:
THE president speaks for himself.
1t would be useless and inappropriate
for me to attempt to interpret the
presidents word"
Senator Foraker said; THAT has
been his position all the while, l
suppose, but l don't care to discuss
the matter thank YOU
Senator Hopkins of Illinois.
tits in keeping with his character
an What he has said from the start.
1t s4ows him to be patriot as we'll
as a statesman, following as he is
traditions of Washington and Jeffer-
son in lin ting himself to two terms. "
La Toilette Expected 1t.
Senator La Toilette. while such
an announcement could be expected,
1t was not expected to come so soon.
/ have no other comment to make at
this time"
Senator Hansbrough. There is no
question at all about the presidents
sincerity at this time and before. If
conditions should demand his noni-
nation the convention would nomi-
nate ham anu do not see how it
would BE- possible for him to decline.
howeve- earnest he might be-
Means 5ryrn's Election.
Senator Tiilman, This is by way
Of documentary evidence that the
president has seen the handwriting