The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-14
THIRD TERM TALK
Those Close to the President Declare That It is Abso-
 lutely Unfounded.
COMMENTS ON MESSAGE
1t Was No Nomination Wedge-Dem-
 ocrats Making Capital of Its It. teIances-Washingto Notes.
Special Correspdoncnce.)

Special Correspdoncnce.)
 Washington, D, C., Feb. 11.-From the moment that the clerks in the senate and house finished reading President Roosevet's special message to congress two weeks ago the White House has been the busiest spot in the nation.
 Senators and congressman, Re publicans and Democrats, third termers" and "anti-third termers," bankers, manufacturers, tariff revi- sionists, labor union officials and, in fact, representatives from nearly ev- cry walk in life have swarmed to the executive offices in such great num- bers that standing room has been at a premium.
 In the universal comment which has followed a close study. of the presidential message the politicians have entirely forgotten individual presidential candidates, except when they fit into some section of the mes sage. Not for six months has there been so much talk about a third term for President Roosevelt and yet there has never been less justification for it.
 The President, of course, will not again make public announcement of his intention to retire from office on the fourth of March, 1909, and so the comment goes on unchecked To the many personal friends who have vis- ited him within the last few days, however, the President has confessed that he is nettled by the apparent de- termination of many to construe his message as an opening wedge for the Republican nomination next June. To these friends he has emphatically de- cared that it is impossible for him to imagine a condition of affairs which would make it necessary for him to even consider for a moment the intro duction of his name at the Republi- can convention as a presidential can dldate.
 Edward A. Filene, a personal friend of the Presidents and frequent vis- itor at the White House during the past week said to- day that any one who had an opportunity to discuss the matter with the President would realize how utterly absurd the Presi- dent considered the third term talk.
 The mere fact that the special mes sage laid emphasis on the necessity for a continuation of the policies which have characterized the present administration does not. it is stated, emanate from the President with any ulterior motive. His sole desire was to point out that to abandon the course or work already begun but not vet completed would be little less than a public calamity.
 When the question develops into the availability of a successor to Presi- dent Roosevelt there may be some ground for the statement that the document was boost for Secretary Taft The President does not con ceal from any one his belief that the secretary is eminently fitted to take up the reins of government with as firm hand as they are now held, To place such construction on some portions of the message does not, it can be Stated, displease MT. Roose- welt But beyond that, his friends de- 
 document intended solely for the bet torment of the country at large.
 The Democrats are making much capital of President Roosevelt's utter ances, as contained in the message, They declare that from first to last it is a platform upon which Democra- tic candidate can go before the peo- pie in the next presidential campaign, and Mir. Bryans friends in congress make no secret of the Nebraskan's in- tention to appropriate a goodly portion of 1t as his own campaign material
 The general activity of these Dem ocratic leaders Is causing cQnsidera- ble alarm in some quarters of the Re publican party Several of the dele gates who came to Washington this week to agitate the appointment of a commission to investigate the subject of tariff revision took occasion to point out to the President that the Republican party would incur need less danger hy neglecting such an i'm portant matter. J. H. Saunders of Chicago, who has spent life time fighting for tariff revision was most pronounced in his views.
 "If congress would only appoint a commission to look into the question of tariff revision the Republicans could safely go before the people next year and tell them that progress is being made in the right direction. But there seems little chance for such ac- ton. Speaker Cannon cannot be budged In my opinion the man is intoxicated with his own power and vii not listen to any argument for tariff revision do not expect that President Roosevelt will either send a special message to congress or urge