Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-15
WILSON FORMALLY
SHES HIS CASTOR
Letter to Ohio Secretary of State
Authorize Candidates for Del
egate to Use His Name.
SAYS MATTER UP TO VOTERS


WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-Presi-
dent Wilson today formally gave his
consent that his name be used as a
candidate for denomination.
In letter to the secretary OF
Ohio the president stated that he
was unwilling to enter a contest
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.
Tho president made known his position
in order TO comply with the Ohio pri-
mary law, which requires candidates for
delegates to the party conventions 20
make their first and second choices be-
fore February 25, and also requires that
the candidates for delegates have the
consent of their nhoices. to mako .usa Of
their names.
Letter 10 Ohio Secretary.
The president was formally notified OF
the requirements OF the law last week,
and today he wrote Charles Q. Hide
brand. secretary OF state OF Ohio. as fol-
lows.
Il am enclosing to you letter. the oc-
casion OF which | dare say Will be quite
obvious. Friends in Ohio have called my
attention to section l954 OF OF the gem
eral code OF Ohio as amended In 1914 with
regard to primate elections. and have re-
quested that indicate my willingness to
have my name used.
Il accordingly take the liberty Of send
ing you the enclosed letter as formal
permission under tho statute"
Text of Formal Notice.
The letter the president enclosed was
as follows:
While | am entirely unwilling to enter
INTO any contest for the presidential nom
NATION OF the democratic party, 1 am
willing 10 permit the use OF my name
that the democrats I'm Ohio may make
known their preference In regard TO that
In order, therefore, TO satisfy the tech
nical requirements os the statutes OF the
state OF Ohio hereby consent 10 the
use or my name as u candidate for the
presidency by any candidate who seeks
10 be elected a delegate to the national
democratic convention which iH to as
semble In June next.
This was the first time the president
has consented formally to have his name
used In connection with the nomination.
His namo had been placed on the pri-
mary ballots In several states, however.
through the activities OF friends.
Question Up 20 voters.
The president takes the position that
the voters will have 70 determine whether
he will make the race foetthe presidency
in 1916 as tho democratic candidate In a
letter written TO A. Mitchell Palmer, then
representative from Pennsylvania, be-
fore his inauguration. Mr. Wilson made
Il plain that he would he candidate
again only II the democratic voters de-
sired H.
Political advisers and friends OF tho
president have taken for granted for
months that no would be the nominee
OF his party and have made their plans
accordingly The national democratic
committee has prepared all the campaign
material with the idea that he would be
the party candidate.
Tho formal announcement today is ex-
pected by democratic leaders TO clarity
the political situation throughout the
country. Supporters Of the president, they
said today. now would be able to work
for Kim more openly.