The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-06
He WILL NOT RUN,
But He WILL RUN

own lifo. actual life on the fold n,
Dattle, or political life In civic af-
ialfs' ne must not grudso tho puy-
meht. In short, 1 Gm not con-
cerhed, with the welfare OF auv
ohe man In this matter, not with
III, rats welfare. nor Mr.. La
foliette's. and least OF all with my
owh' am concerned only with
tho welfare or the people of tho
United States"
WINS Alisundcrstoou.
colonel Roosevelt Expresses f.or
that declaration Of his attitude
toward nomination would be Inis-
construed and says:
Let me illustrate what mean
ny referring you to TIE language
IN winch alter the election OF 1904.
announced that l would not be n
candidate for denomination. Al
the Time, good friends OF mine sug-
sested that l should use some such
formula as stating that L would
not be candidate in 1905 because
Oh the custom that had grown M
not elect Il man as President for
third consecutive term, but on
thinking IL over 1 became con-
Vihced that II l used such language
would inevitably be taken as an
Ou''SSHieht that would be "A
Candidate Tor another term in 1912,
anu TINS IN spite of the tact that,
OF course. tho language ii taken
Literally would only have referred
10 l9OS, and have mad no more
bearing on 1912 than on 1916 or
1913. Accordingly i used language
which simply stated that | paid
heed to the essence and not the
form OF the wise custom OF our
loreiathers IN reference TO tho
mira term; the essence, OF course.
icing that the custom applied lust
as much when my hrst term WAS
inc ming out OF an uncNpircd
term OIL my predecessor as If IL
had been an elective term, and that
on the other hand. II had no appli
cation whatever to the candidacy
oil a man who was 4. the tim. In
Office. whether he had or had not
been President before. Yet, even
as IL was. men ut once began TO
ask me whether my refusal was TO
DC held TO apply to 1912 or TO 1916,
10 which i, OF course. responded
mat II would be preposterous to
answer any such question one way
or the other.
Not Seeking Onlce.
say positiOH were only
pose continued Colonel Roose-
welt. Il should certainly act dif-
lerenily from the way l am net.
ing. Tor am we'll aware that the
way L am acting Is not the way
in which to act If desire TO be
made President. But my attitude
Is not pose, / am acting MS do
because. according 10 my lights.
am endeavoring. in not too
easy position. 10 90 what | believe
the interests of the people de-
mand. From this standpoint / am
convinced that although it is en-
urely proper for other mon to
seek the presidency, IL is neither
wise nor proper for me TO do so.
the conditions being what they &C
tually are.
Under these circumstances"
writes the Colonel In conclusion.
Il must not put myself in a posi-
tion which would look as II were
seeking The office us II | were
trying TO get II for my own sake.
know well that this means I'm
all probability some one else viii
be nominated and elected; for
where others actively seek the
nomination, their friends, as is
natural actively work for them.
and give tho skilful direction and
leadership without which even a
strongly aroused public opinion
generally falls to find expression.
Therefore. / have along felt that
even II there should be & strong
popular demand for me (as TO
which l can pass no judgmenO,
yet that unless this demand were
literally overwhelming IL could
hardly make itself effective rather
than by any action OF mine l
should make II seem that 1 desire
the presidency for my own sake.
or am willing to accept 1t unless
1t comes to me as the result OF
real popular movement. giving cx-
preston To demand from at least
a substantial portion Of the plain
people that should undertake
given task in the interest OF tho
people as q whole.
BEFORE l speak there should be
some tangible evidence that such
is the case