The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10
NO DEVIATION
IN ROOSFVFLTS
REFUSAL TO RUN
President Is Determined Not TO
Accept Nomination for
Third Term
Story That Taft Is Merely a
Stalking Horse Is Without
Foundation
Chief Executive Firmly Believes
War Secretary Is Man for
the Place
By Ira E. Bennett
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL
WASHINGTON, May e.-In view
of the actions Of the republicans. of
Utah in instrpcting their delegates to
the republican national convention to
vote for the denomination Of President
Roosevelt, am permitted to reiterate
the presidents unyielding purpose not
70 accept denomination under any cir
cumstance.
The president does not propose to
issue another formal statement in re-
gard to this matter. To do so might
create the impression that he doth
protest too much"
There are others who charge that the
president really wants the nomination.
that he has been intriguing for it, that
ne has made Secretary Taft a stalking
horse, that his recent activity in pre-
senting Legislation was inspired BY q
desire TO strengthen the sentiment for
his continuance in Office.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT DEvIATE
It can be stated as emphaticaIly as
words admit that there is not, has not
been and viii not be the slightest devi-
alton on the part Of the president from
his decision not again TO be a candi-
date. he does not believe his nomina-
tion a possibility. 1t is his expecta-
ton that Secretary Taft VIII be nomi-
mated on the first ballot It is his un-
dsrstanding that more than zoe dele
gates viii go to Chicago either in
structed or pledged to vote for the
nomination Of Taft II there were to
be two or three ballots Il is possible
that a stampede would be attempted in
his interest. It is possible, also, that
II Utah were to be called upon first to
name its choice. the convention. in
spired by its declaration. would en-
thusiasticaIly acclaim the president as
the candidate for the party. But Utah
IS so far down the list OF states that
by the time it shall have been reached
more than enough votes viii have been
cast. in the judgment OF the president
20 Insure the nomination OF the secre-
tary OF war. What is true. of Utah is
true also OF Texas, some OF whose dele
gates have been instructed to vote for
the president.
RETIREs WITH REGRET
Those who know the president are
aware that in giving up ofice he does
so with that natural regret which all
men. possessing strength OF character
and the opportunity TO enforce their
VIII must feel in surrendering the reins
OF power. But Roosevelt. is satisfied
that IN doing this he is acting for the
best interests Of the people. The presi-
dent IS firm believer in that tradition
for which Washington was response
ble-that a president shall not have
more than two terms. He has no pa
tience with the suggestion that the
three years and six months of his first
administration did not constitute a
term of Office" in the sense in which
that term was employed by Washing
ton and Mckinley in their antI-third
term declarations. 1t is not generally
known that ne prepared the declaration
he issued Immediately after his election
IN 1904 months before the voters cast
their ballots so enthusiastically for
him. He was unwilling then to be put
in the attitude OF having every act OF
(,onffuued ON Page 40. Column