Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-14
PRESIDENT ALLOWS .
USE Of HIS NAME
Notifies Ohio Secretary Of
State of Candidacy for
denomination.
FRIENDS SAY HIS ACT
CLARIFIES SITUATION
National Committee Now Able to
Work on Assumption He Will
Be Party's Choice.

President Wilson today for
mally gave his consent that his
name be used as a candidate for
denomination.
In letter to the secretary OF
state OF Ohio. the President stated
that he was unwilling to enter a
cortest for the nomination, but
was ready to permit the use OF
his name in the coming primary
in order that the democrats of
Ohio might make known their
preference.
Complies With Ohio Law.
The President made known his posi-
ton in order to comply with the Ohio
primary law. which requires candi-
dates for delegates to the party con-
ventions to make known their first and
second choices before February %, and
also requires that the candidates for dele
gates have the consent of their choices
to make use of their names
The President was formally notified
of the requirements of the law last
week. and today he wrote Charles G.
Hildebrant, secretary of state of Ohio,
as follows:
81 am inclosing to you a letter the
occasion of which. I dare say. will be
quite obvious. Friends in Ohio have
called my attention to section 1854 of
the general code of Ohio as amended
In 1914 with regards to primary cleo
tions, and have requested that / indi-
cate my Willingness to have my name
used.
Il accordingly take the liberty of
sending you the inclosed letter as for
NAL permission under the statute
The Presidents Letter.
The letter the President inclosed was
as follows:
while am entirely unwilling to en-
ter into any contest for the presiden-
tial nomination of the democratic
party. I am willing to permit the use
of my name, that the democrats in
Ohio may make known their preference
in regard to that nomination.
In order. therefore. to satisfy the
of the state Of Ohio, 1 hereby consent
to the use of my name as candidate
for the presidency by any candidate
who seeks to be elected a delegate to
the national democratic convention
which is to assemble in June"
This was the first time the President
has consented formally to have his
name used in connection with the
nomination. His name has been placed
on primary ballots in several states,
however, through the activities of
friends.
Voters Must Determine,
The President takes the position that
the voters will have to determine
whether he will make the race for the
presidency in 1916 as the democratic
candidate. In letter written to A.
Mitchell Palmer, then representative
from Pennsylvania. before his inaugu-
ration. MIR. Wilson made it plain that
he would only be candidate again if
the democratic voters desired it,
Political advisers and friends of the
President have taken for granted for
months that he would be the nominee
of his party. and have made their plans
committee has prepared all its cam
paign material with the idea that he
would be the party candidate.
The formal announcement TODAY is
expected by democratic leaders to
clarity the political situation through
out the country. Supporters of the
President, they said today. now would
be able to work for him more openly.