Evening star., 1919-12-31
SILENCE ON THIRD
TERM IS POLICY Of
PRESIDENT WILSON
Not Expected,to Run, But An
nOuncement Is Not Consid-
cred Advisable.
by DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson is being urged TO
say publicly that he Will not be a
candidate for reelection, but just
when he will do so is something
which he alone can decide. He has
arrived at no decision as yet. Publica-
tion locally of a story to the effect
that Mr.. Wilson would make such
pronouncement at the jackson day
dinner of the democrats on January
drew no direct denial at the White
House except that officials there gave
the impression that if such an
nouncemen- We're made it would
hardly be at the Jackson day dinner
There is sentiment. too. that has
held sway in executive quarters to
the effect that it would be unwise for
the President to make any statement
about the matter of a third term be-
cause of the disintegration of his
influence which might follow. Until
the treaty and league of nations is
disposed of by the Senate. for in
stance. it is reckoned wiser for Mr..
Wilson to maintain silence about the
future, no matter how much the va
rious aspirants may be clamoring for
a statement from Mr.. Wilson that
would be the release signal, SO to
speak. for their presidential booms,
On the other hand. several of the
democratic aspirantS to the presi-
dency are going ahead, regardless OF
any statement from the White House.
In fact it is so widely accepted
among the democrats that Mr.. E.ii- .
son viii not run for a third torn
that the only thing that is awaited
with tense interest is what Mr. Will,
type of man who SHOULD be given
the standard of the democratic party
in the next campaign
Mr.. Wilson May Blaze Way.
1t, is confidently expected that Mr.
Wilson will blaze the way with
statement of principles which he him
self considers fundamental in TINS
day and age. On the other hand. II
is very likely that the President will
not take any part himself in the
nomination contest. The fact tnat-
William c. McAdoo. his own son-in-
law. is being pushed forward as
candidate by many Wilson democrats
is one embarrassment. and the fact
that the President himself does not
believe the democratic party should
be dictated to on the subject or NOM
nations is quite another
But there seems no question tha'
Mr. Wilson will oe found indorsinr
the choice of the convention and even
aiding in the campaign. Far IRON
being out of politics. MIR. Wilson is ar
active factor to be reckoned with ~
the next campaign. and practicaiiT
every one of the candidates who -
now being doomed would not object
Mr. Wilson's help if he could get it
So far as the third term is conceri
ed. it is an open secret that Mr.. Wi
son never intended to rur for re-eac'
ton There are enough individual
friends and political ccmmitteem'
who have known positively or his
tentions for long time.
Disturbed by Statement.
Indeed il is a fact that when
Wilson was al Paris he was so mu
upset by the report ts<spread by opp
nents in the United States to the g
feet that he was planning the leagr
of nations so as to preside over =. a.
that he wanted to use it. as a vehici
for a third term. that he planned I
issue "A statement at that time re
nouncing all third term ambitions aifs
declaring his intention to return
private life at the end of his presen
term.
Political advisers on this side Of ths,
Atlantic feared it would have bad
effect on the treaty fight if Mr.. Will
son made such a statement as thes
believed it was necessary to keep thr
democratic party solidly behind thct
treaty and also to dangle before the
republican the possibility that the
President himself might appeal to the
people il 1920 if the league Were
made "A party issue. That Mr. Wilso
has long intended to retire at the end
of his present term is unqucstionabl bl
true.
But when he does make known his
intentions he will. on the other hanf
use the occasion rot merely to star
off a presidential race. as would b"
the case if he made a statement to tn
jackson day dinner. but to forward tn
cause of liberalism, which he hold
is paramount in an age that is full Of
the hySteria of reaction that ALVEY
follows war.
fConyrirhf 1872