Albuquerque citizen., 1908-03-30
ROOSEvE[TOWES
DUTY To HIS
COUNTRY
Justice NOrCroSS outlines
Reasons Why President
Should Be Candidate.

the supreme court of Nevada, in
competition with hundreds of others
coming from every state and terri
tory, has been awarded the prize
OF 81, 900 offered by the Hon. Jona-
than Bourne. United States senator
frome Oregon, through the National
Magazine. for the strongest and best
written argument in favor Of the re-
election OF Theodore Roosevelt for a
second elective term:
The assertion that the sovereign
people and not Theodore Roosevelt
the individual and public servant.
will decide who shall be his success
Sor" is so manifest that it will not
admit of argument to the contrary.
The views of the president are en-
titled to most respectful considera-
zion. but they are not necessarily
conclusive, even where the question
Is whether he shall succeed himself
The position of the president re-
garding his own candidacy is we'll
known. Immediately following the
election in 1904 he issued statement
to the people, which statement he
reiterated on the 11th of December
last. upon the occasion of the call of
the Republican national committee
statement is as follows:
81 am deeply sensible of the honor
done me by the American people in
thus expressing their confidence in
what | have done and have tried to
do. l appreciate to the full the SOL
emn responsibility this confidence
imposes upon me, and | shall do all
that in my power lies not to forfeit
IN 1tb n March npyt shall
have served three and a half years.
and these three and a half years con-
stitute my first term. The wise GUS
tom which limits the president to
two terms regards the substance and
not the form, and under no circum-
stances will | be a candidate for or
accept another nomination"
Judgment of People Decisive.
There is no reason why the sorego-
ing announcement should be accept
ed by the American people as con-
elusive sin ply because it comes from
Mr.. Roosevelt If there is room for
a difference of opinion as to fact or
reason. er both, the good judgment
of the whole people must be and is,
decisive.
The only custom that prevails in
this country regarding the terms OF
office Of our presidents applies to
elective tens The president. un-
auestionably. 1oes not come within
the letter of this custom. If the
custom is to undergo modification.
Mr.. Roosevelt certainly has not the
right to all the say regarding that
modification. Doubtless. when Mr.
Roosevelt issued the foregoing state
ha Mt ~
by modesty. For him to insist, how
ever, that the views therein expressed
are conclusive would be the height
of arrogance. 1t is probably the fact
that the people do not care for any
innovations upon the custom in ques
tinn. The great mass of the Ameri
can people are well pleased with the
administration of President Roose
Velt. They want him for two elective
terms, and they have the right t
say whether his reelection will be {
violation 90 a custom of debatabl'
wisdom. Mr.. Roosevelt has neve
been an advocate of short measure II
any of his dealings with the people
There is neither reason nor consist
ency in his saying now that the peO
pie shall accept three and a hal
years as full term when they ar
entitled to four. The citizens OF thi
country are always entitled to tn
full bushel Of wheat. If, in order I
obtain it, they must take it heape
and running over who will object
unless il be those who. for persona
reasons. do not want the people t
have all that is coming to them?
Does Not Violate Custom in SubstanC
The only reason offered by tn
president why he will not again be
come a candidate is that it will vic
hate the Substance" Of the custom
To insist upon such a conclusion
view Of all the facts to be considere
would. place his own personal desire
or egotistical opinions paramount
the combined wishes and Intelligent
Of the Republican party and the ele
t0rate OF the nation" As matte
Of fact, the people will not have ha
the substance of two administration
of President Roosevelt at the close
his present term. To prove this, &
that Is necessary is to quote fro
the language Of the president and ci
a little recent history. In that da
hour of universal sorrow followi
Immediately upon the death of o
beloved President Mckinley, vi
President Roosevelt was notified
the presidents death by the membt
Of Mr.. McKinleys cabinet. tn
present I'm Buffalo, and advised to
once take the oath of office as pre-
dent The reply Of the then VI
president is significant:
81 shah take the oath at once,
accordance with your request and
this hour Of deep and terrible Matte
] ID