The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-12-18
THIRD Term TALK
Ended by President Roosevelt Re.
peating What He Said
ON ELECTION NIGHT.

Ho4Ubuc8A auQ Democfatlc LeaQers
Freely Comment on the Presi.
dents Announcement that He Will
Under No Circumstances Stand for
Reelection as the Candidate Of the
Republican Party.
President Roosevelt will not be a
candidate for a third term. All
doubt on this point was dispelled
Wednesday by the authorized state
ment from the White House that Mr.
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 the 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
I shall do all that in my power lies
not to forfeit it. On the fourth OF
March next I shall have served three
and a half years, and this three and
a 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
ination.' 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-the feeling
was general that it left no element OF
doubt in the Presidential situation,
so far as it relates to the third term
talk, and that it definitely eliminates
Mr.. Roosevelt from the contest.
Some Democrats, however, express
a belief that a 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 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 declin::
ed to discuss the matter.
Senator Hopkins said it shows him
to be a patriot as we'll as states
man, following as he is the tradl'
tions of Washington and Jefferson
in limiting hisself to two terms.
Senator La Toilette said: ""hile
such an announcement could be e2'
pected it was not expected to come
so soon. I have no other eommeh'
10 make at this time
Representative Richardson OF Ala
hama, said. ''It is in accordance WIFI
what I have always said OF him.
Aid not believe he would accept th'
nomination for a third term.
Means Bryan Says Tiliman.
Among the Democrats who com
nented on the Presidents statemen
was Senator Tillman. who salo:
"Thfs is by way of doeumehtar:
evidence that the President has seer
the handwriting on the wall -
means that Bryan will be the mex,
president of the United States
roosevelt is the only possloie ne
nuhlican candidate who could Dc
considered formidable
Iohn Sharp Williams said: i oe
reve T am one Of the few Democrats
~ nub,ic life in the country VINO na'
been saving all along that the tres
ident would not run for a tnlre
time. I believe he had 100 muo,
Enowledge of history to run the risf
~ threatening republican institutions
with perpetuity of tenure IN 'h'
presidency. I also thought he wa
a man Of SO much pride that even
he had come to regret his after-elec
t;on utterances he would still stan'
IA his word. think the third tern
issue would have made Mr.. Roose
velt the weakest man the Republican
party could have nominated not
v,thstanding the fact that he is per
sonally the most popular Republican
in the country to-day
Representative Hardwick, of Geor
ria, said: II think it means a tri
umph for. the reactiouary element il
the Republican party and a goo
chance for the Democrats to win.
Representative Bartlett, Of Geor
ria. said: ut means a different car
dfdate and a different platform.