Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-02-04

have to tender it to him-he will NOT
actively seek, or use his position to
build an organization to force his
nomination, as Roosevelt, for ex-
ample, forced the nomination of Taft
by the Republicans in 1908. If the
people want Wilson to run again, he
will, il they do not he will not force
himself on them.
This is President Wilson's position
with reference to his denomination,
according to reports from the ma
tional capital. Louis Seibold, polit-
ical writer for the New York World,
says that efforts by leaders of his
party to obtain from the president
some expression regarding his own
views concerning the matter have
met with no success other than to
elicit the assurance that the presi-
dent is of the same mind regarding
presidential SUGGESTIONS today as he
was on February 5, 1913, 81 days be-
/ fore he was inaugurated.
On that day he addressed letter
to A. Mitchell Palmer, then vice
chairman of the Democratic national
committee, commenting on the Joint
resolution then before congress
amending the federal constitution by
providing for a single presidential
term of six years.
There is the very highest author
ity for the statement that the views
expressed therein by the president
have not undergone any change, Sci
bold adds. The leaders of his party,
urging him to make some announce
ment regarding his plans, have dis
covered this fact on more than one
occasion. He has persistently re-
fused to "play" politics, to say or do
anything that would indicate a de-
sire on his part for a denomination.
To one of his most ardent sup
porters who urged him to announce
his candidacy for a second term re-
Gently, the president replied by indi-
eating the passage in the letter
referred to, which reads:
II absolutely pledge myself to re-
sort to nothing but public opinion to
decide that question. The president
ought to be absolutely deprived of
every other means of deciding it. He
can be. I shall use to the utmost
every proper, influence within my
reach to see that he is, before the
term to which have been elected is
out. That side of the matter need
disturb no one"
! The full text of the letter, written
while he was still governor Of New
Jersey but not published until just
recently, is:
my Dear. Palmer: Thank you
warmly for your letter of February 3.
1t was Enthusiastically considerate
of you to ask my views with regard
to the joint resolution which has just
come over from the house to the
senate with regard to the presiden-
tial term.
II have not hitherto said anything
about this question, because had not
observed that there was any evidence
that the public was very much inter-
ested in it. must have been mis-
taken in this, else the senate would
hardly have acted SO promptly
upon 1t.
Spoke Without Reserve.
ut is a matter which concerns the
character and conduct of the great
office upon the duties of which I am
about to enter. 7 feel, therefore,
that in the present circumstances I
should not be acting consistently with
my ideals with regard to the rule of
entire frankness and plain speaking
that ought to exist between public
servants and the public whom they
serve IL I did not speak out about it
without reserve of any kind, and
without thought of the personal en-
barrassment.
1.-THE question is simply this: Shall
our presidents be free, so far as the
law Is concerned, to seek second
term of four years. or shall they be
limited by constitutional amendment
to a single term Of four years, or to
single term extended to six years?
Il can approach the question from
a perfectly impersonal point Of view,
because I shall most cheerfully abide
by the judgment of my party and the
public as to whether shall be can
didate for the presidency again in
1915. I absolutely pledge myself to
resort to nothing but public opinion
to decide that question.
1.-THE president ought to be abso-
lutely deprived Of every other means |
H. - T. hn ch n