The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-02-14
MANY PREDICT
A THIRD TERM
For President Roosevelt Should.
Taft Fail to Land.
DISCUSSION is REVIVED
Presidents Supporters and Conservative
Political Prophets Predict he win
Control Convention.

Roosevelt third term talk has been re-
vived with an abruptness and vigor
that Is disconcerting to the reaction
aries" The presidents recent mes
sage to congress and the spontaneous
and not always discriminating praise
accorded that message by democrats
has brought this about.
The presidents convincing proof
that there is still great deal Of fight
left in him started the talk. His most
ardent supporters are pointing to the
message as evidence that he cares
more for the success Of the program
he has outlined than for any personal
victory. He is believed to be frankly
and sincerely In favor of MIR. Taft,
whom he depends upon to continue the
fight for the establishment of the
Roosevelt policies, But, if the coun-
try refuses to have Mr. Taft, and If
the reactionary element threatens to
control the party, the president will,
take charge of the situation personally,
and the result will be inevitable.
The more conservative political
prophets predict that the presidents
..,s.4..r1 De th.o v1av% ~ q +innaI convention
Of his party will be absolute. His In
fuence will govern in the selection of
a candidate, they say, and the princi-
pies and policies outlined in his recent
message will be converted into plat
form declarations.
If the power of the president Is so
complete and his influence is controL
ing in the convention, there will, of
course, be no occasion for him to throw
himself into the breach; but, should the
delegates get away from Mr.. Taft, the
presidents friends will stampede the
convention for Roosevelt.
The present outlook is for Taft on
the first ballot or Roosevelt on the
second. There has been a great deal
of comment Of late upon this line, and
the impression is growing that if the
country refuses the man whom the
| president favors, the only alternative
will be the president himself In the
Washington Times of recent issue APP
peared on the editorial page, predic-
ton is made with the confidence and
lack of reserve that ordinarily marks
the publication Of straight item OF
news.
Immediately under the editorial page
heading, set in conspicuous type and
in double column appears the follow
ing:
"An analysis Of the political situa-
ton today, and careful estimate Of
the personal and running strength of
the various candidates in the presi-
Dental race, point emphatically to the
conclusion that Mr.. Roosevelt will be
nominated in spite of himself And his
denomination will mean his reelection
by majority of matches dimen-
sions."
Saturday Representative Clayton of
Alabama, who introduced early in De-
cenber a resolution in the house de-
claring, against third term for any
| president, announced that he proposed
to make fight to have the committee
report his resolution and to have it
pass the house. The resolution has
lain for several weeks in the commit
tee on the election of president and
vice president and it was thought no
further attention would be paid to it,
but recent agitation has evidently
made Representative Clayton deter
mined to put the matter through. In
discussing the matter, he said
ION the day the president announc-
ed his adherence to his election night
promise not to be candidate nor to
accept another nomination, l intro
duced in the house a second resolution
congratulating him upon his loyalty to
the precedent set by Washington and
Jefferson, and commencing him for his
wisdom and patriotism.
4 have not been able to get hear.
ing on either resolution before the
committee on election of president
and vice president, of which Mr.. Gaines
Of West Virginia is chairman. was
assured by him that he would call the
committee together in a few days and
| would have f,ll1 baoriro. -, +hia IL :,