The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-02
COLONEL PlUneEs INTO FIGHT
READS CONSECUTIVE" INTO
ANTI-THIRD TERN DECLA-
RATION.
Refers InquArers 20 Columbus and
Boston Speeches for Information
as To What It Is.

ooseoh' rep. So.-COlOnel R0O80-
welt plunged into the thick Of the
fGht for the presidential nomina.
tion today. He said uneQuivocally
that he was In the fight to the end
and was glad Of It. He replied to
the charges that he would be break.
Ing his third term" pledge II he &C.
cepted another nomination and as
serted that whether or not he should
be the choice Of his party at the Chi
oago convention. he would abide by
Its decision.
II am perfectly happy now" said
he. because I am making a straight
out fight for a principle. The issue
Is In no way a personal one"
DO you intend to support the Re-
publican nominee. whoever he may
beY" he was asked.
''of course I shall" ne replied with
emphasis.
In response to inquiries as to the
principles for which he is fighting.
Col. Roosevelt referred questioners to
his speeches In Columbus. Ohio. last
week and before the Massac husetts
house today. In his address today he
defended his proposal for limited re-
call OF judicial decisions and cham
pioned the right Of popular opinion to
,ontroi the machinery Of govern
inent.
Col. Roosevelr's position In regard
TO the third term" was explained to
a number OF his callers today.
MY position Is perfectly simple"
he said. II stated II as clearly as
could In 1904. and reiterated II In
1907. I said that I would not accept
. nomination for third term. under
any circumstances. meaning Of
course, third consecutive term.
II could not have said less at the
time. nor could have said more.
0f course I could not then know
whether OF not there would be a de-
nane or me to accept a nomination
at some future time. and, believing
as I do. that the selection Of candi-
dates for the presidency rests entirely
with the people. I could not say that
~ no time In my life would accept
snother nomination.
1T must be clear to any reasonable
man hat the precedent which forbids
a third term has reference only To a
third consecutive term II grew out
<of--the fact that president of the
United states under the present con-
vention system of slecting delegates
can Il he knows how 10 use the ma
chirery at his disposal renom,nate
h.sasen even though the majority Of
his party is against him. But, after
he has been out OF office for torn.
he has lost control Of that machinery
He Is In the position absolutely of any
private citizen. The machinery Is
then I'm the hands Of the man occupy
ing tho Office of president"
Col Roosevelt devoted a large part
OF the day To comforting with men
who are forming the Roosevelt or
ganization I'm Massachusetts,. He told
them he would not identify himself
actively. for the present at least. with
the organization. He also talked for
some time with Gov. Robert Bass OF
New Hampshire. wnom he Is to meet
again tomorrow.
Col Roosevelt promised today TO
send a letter to be read at Roosevelt
rally. which will be held here Sat-
urday night by the progressive Re-
pubiican league. Gov. Stubs OF Kan
sas. ex-Gov. Fort OF New Jersey and
Senator Ciapp OF Minnesota are ex-
pectcd to speak.