The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-17
OUTLOOK TELLS
A LII ABOUT 1T
When Contributing Editor Said
He Would Not Accept Another
Nomination He Had Only
1908 in Mind-May Want
More Political "Cof-
fee" Now.
Especial to The Timcs-Dlspatch.l

| New York. February l6,-Coloncl
Roosevelt's word spoken on March S.
1904. and repeated on December II,
1907. that under no circumstances
would he be candidate for or accept
! that. The Outlook. Ia It's current is
sue. says SO, in effect, and since the re-
! turn from Africa tha Outlook has been
recognized as the official mouthpiece
F, of the Colonel.
| What the Colonel did mean, according
! to the Outlook's ,ditorially expressed
opinion. was like this: Under no cir
cumstances will be a candidat. for or
accept another nomination unless /
am allowed to become private citizen
| TOR while. that | can't the
patronage of my office OF President to
get votes for myself"
Views of the Outlook.
| When attempt was made tonight to
| find out whether the editorial in the
current issue of the periodical Of which
| Colonel Roosevelt is an EDITOR was
| authorized by the Colonel and SEMI
| official In its nature. the best that
could be learned from Karl Y. s How
| land, secretary of the Outlook Com
pany. was that the views expressed in
| the editorial were the views of the
| outlook only
WAS Colonel Roosevelt consulted in
the preparation of the edi,orial?"
"Hc was not, believe" said Mr..
Rowland.
rs he aware of the nature of it?"
He very probably is by this time"
was the answer.
IF he objected to the gist of it, 1t
| is proba bic that he would have raised
| strenuous obi ect!ons To IL going into
F., the paper. would he not?'
| Very probably" said he.
| And he hasn't done that?"
| NO said Mr.. Rowland Then he
! added: But you can't make anything
i out OF that. The editorial expresses
the editorial view of the Outlook: it
is the Outlooks view only
But the editorial view means the
view OF the editors of the paper. does
| it not?" he was asked.
| 1T does" he said.
! And Colonel Roosevelt is an edl-
tor of the Outlook, is he not?" Mr..
! Rowland assented.
| This : as close to Colonel Roosevelt
as the editorial could be traced III
effect il Is that what Colonel Roose
Welt said in 1904 only referred to
consecutive third term and not to
| third term at any time in his future
| career.
The outlook's editorial uses this
! Illustration:
When a man says at breakfast in
the morning: no. thank you, will not
take any more coffee IL does not mean
that he will not take any more coffee
tomorrow morning. or next week, or
next month, or next year
Tie Meant Only 1905.
And so. wh1n Colonel Roosevelt
said: Under circumstances will I
he candidate for or accept another
nomination. he didn't mean he wouldn',
accept the nomination in 1912. or 1916.
or 1920: he simply meant ii as his pub
licly expressed opinion in 1904, and
| repeated in 1907. that he wouldn't ac-
ccpt in 1905, which would have made
three consecutive terms for him"
In Jefersons time" says Tic out,
| look. there were real dangers against
which the antithird term sentiment
was directed. In the early history OF
the country i, was not Impossible that
a President might so intrench him
self by the use OF patronage and the
support OF oflccholders as to make It
difficult to elect an opponent. even
when the country desired TO do so. we
think those dangers have passed AVA.
and we see no reason why an efficient
President of the United States might
not be reelected. like the president
OF business corporation, as long as
he does his work satisfactorily. We
repeat what we said thirty three wears
ago. when the debate was acute re-
gardinE possible third term for Cen
eral Grant" Then is quoted a piece
from an editorial OF 1872, which saws
that there should be no objection to
! a President continuing for thirty terms
| If ne is a good one
But those who do not accent this
view" the present editorial continues
"and think that ii is still unsafe 10
elect President for third term.
! should recall the fact that the obtec.
! lions to third term We're formulated
against consecutive third term
Stanwoods History OF Presidential
Elections states that many opponents
/ of President Grants third term nom
nation In 1876 Joined the movement
TO nominate him In 1880. on the ground
that an election after an interval of
four years would not a a breach OF
, the 'unwrittcn constitution against n
! third term. y man who leaves tn
presidency and Is reelected after n |
! lapse OF four or eight or twelve yaurs.
has no body Of ofIicehoIdcrs behind
| linn, does not possess the power ~
patronage. and therefore stands on tho
! same footing as any other private cit
teen.
Not Inconsistent.
| in Mr.. Roosevelt's SPECIFIC case IL |
| is sometimes said that his stateTie Il
! In 1904 and 1907 that he would not
accept another nomination would |
make his acceptance of n nomination |
\ tliis year inconsistent.
What Mr.. Roosevelt said in 100 |
and a07 referred, OF course, to c.;n
SO cntivc third term. Mr.. RooscsI. |
believes, although we dou't share his |
country makes third consecutive |