Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-15
Third Term Movement
and ROOSeVelf'S Position

plain people that Mr.. Roosevelt is the
real leader for our times, and that he is
needed for the further development of
his policies Second, and closely akin
was the feeling on the part of state and
local politicians that with no other name
at thS head of the ticket could they so
easily carry their states and secure Re
publican victories in all their local con-
tests. Thus there was a belief even
among Democratic politicians that, be-
sides carrying the safely Republican
states, Mr.. Roosevelt could carry Vir-
ginia, Kentucky. Tennessee and Missouri
(Which he carried in 1904 by 10000 ma
jority), and that he would have even
good chance in North Carolina. Dis
tinguished Democrats in Atlanta have in
timated that Mr.. Roosevelt might also
carry Georgia It is easy to see then
why local Republican politicians, wishing
to elect state and county tickets, shonld
have clung to the hope that Mr.. Roose-
velt could be induced to take the nomlna-
ton. Further than that, there are many
federal officeholders who have been APP
pointed by the president and who would
on all grounds be glad to have their
chief remain at the head of the govern
ment. If some of these officehodlers had
not participated in the third-term talk.
their reserve would have been without
PACSCOtnl III llle HlSlOTy Ol DOlllltSs III
answer to criticisms launched against
the undue activity of some of these of
ficials, 1t is enough to say that the third
term movement, in so far as it had
strength. was genuine and spontaneous.
and that 1t was neither helped nor him
dered appreciably by anybody's schemes
or designs. Some weeks ago President
Roosevelt had been informed that certain
oniceholders were openely advocating
ANSxtv. -, l.
that government employees must not en-
ter district or state conventions with a
view to forcing him into the position of
a candidate.
Still another reason for the great
strength and persistence of the third
term movement was the lack of any
other name to conjure with. Everybody
was ready TO admit that the Republican
party possessed a number of men who
would make good presidents, but there
seemed to be no one as yet who had ap-
pealed to the popular mind and heart,
and therefore 1t was a serious question
whether anybody but Roosevelt could
beat Bryan.
The president has in public as we'll as
In private reiterated this declaration
many times since 1t was first made, In
1904. 1t was not necessary for him to
Spebh dBdlH, yet IHe SOMEWHAT perpelXeQ
and discouraged friends of various cam
didates desired renewed announcement,
and the president of course had no OBJ
lection to gratifying them. The psychol-
ogy of masses of men is hard to under
stand. Just why this last statement
should be received as conclusive, while
doubt should have been cast upon identi-
cal statements made a little earlier, is
not for us to discuss. 1t is enough to say
tIak h. IL.
to hold early conventions in several states
and pledge their delegates to Mr.. Roose-
Welt will probably refrain from such
course. Other candidates will now be
permitted to test the sentiment of the
people, and from this time forth the game
will be played with much activity and
zest.-Review of Reviews.