New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-01-01
Report Of Announcement
That President Seeks
No Third Term Refv1ted
After Tumulty Visit
Loss of Prestige in
League Fight Seen
Col. House Urged Retire.
noent Call to Line Coun-
try Up for the Treaty
By Carter Field
NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. - Denial
was made to day that President Wilson
would write letter announcing he was
not a candidate for reelection, to be
read at the Jackson Day dinner or
January 8. Joseph P. Tumulty tolc
friends that there was nothing in the
report which was printed here this
morning. Tumulty had a talk with
the President early to-day, though il
is not known whether this subject was
mentioned
Colonel z. NJ. House has been taking
the position for some time the
President should announce that he was
not candidate in order to permit
public sentiment among Democrats all
over the country to crystalline on some
other man. In talks with friends
Colonel House had referred to time
when the President, then in Paris, was
on the brink Of making the announce
ment he was not a candidate for realec-
ton. At that time the announcement
the President having a more united
country behind him in his negotiations
at Paris.
During the Presidents swing around
the circle some of his advisers took
the position if he would announce
f@tly that he was not candidate it
would aid him in his efforts to force
the treaty through the Senate This
phase OF the situation was so manifest
that it was presented by several
writers for papers friendly to the
league rs the most interesting news
development Of the trip. But the
president. although stating he would
make any sacrifice to assure ratifica-
ton of the treaty, did not take the
step urged on him by these advisers.
This is recalled here because the
same logic which prevented the Presl-
dent from making an announcement
at Paris and which restrained him
from announcing it on the Pacific
Coast during his trip applies to-dav
with much greater force
That logic is the moment the Presi
dent makes a definite announcement
he is not a candidate he loses his grin
on the Democratic Senators. 1t is
more true to-day than when he was
in Paris or on the Pacific Coast. be-
cause the Democratic Senators are
showing many signs OF breaking away
from the President on the treaty and
reaching a compromise with the Re
publicans regardless of whether that
compromise is entirely satisfactory to
the President or rot.
Wilson Cautious on Treaty
OF course they realize, and Tie
President knows, that such ratification.
would be valueless unless the Presi-
denr afterward deposited this ratitca-
ton function which the ConN tuition
lodges exclusively in the Presidents
hands. But the President. it IS
thought, is not anxious in such q way
to accept the undivided responsibility
for the defeat of The treaty, especial
y as there have been strong intimn.
tions, 70 say the least. that Great
Britain and France would accent the
United States in the league with
strong reservations.
1t was regarded as rather significant
in this connection that Tumultv was
sent up to the Capitol by the President
TO day Immediately after publication
OF two stories-one that the Demo
cratic Senators were negotiating
compromise with the Republicans,
with Senator Pomerene, himself a
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton, as negotlator, and the other the
story. that the President would send
a letter to the jackson Day dinner
saying he was not candidate.
Dcnlals of the story of Mr.. Wilson's
self -effacement do not go so far as to
say that the President will be q can
dldate In fact the very general i'm
preston in Washington is that the
Presl dent will not be and for a very long
time has had no intention of being a
candidate. At the dinner he gave
the National Committee at the White
House Immediately after his first trip
to Paris the President told his guests,
as printed in The Tribune the next
day, that after March 4, 1921, he would
devote his attention to writing history.
Fight Halts Announcement
But there is very great difference,
it is pointed out, between intending to
retire to private life and public an
nouncement to that effect while ques-
tons are still pending over which the
President wishes to exert his maximim
influence. II the peace treaty should be
ratified by the end of January, which
is entirely possible, an announcement,
it is said, might shortly be expected
from the White House that Mr.. Wilson
Al
over. it is thought, or unless it drags
out nterminably. no announcement Will
be made.
There is an element in the party
which thinks that the only hope of
Democratic victory is wrapped up IN
Mr.. Wilson and the peace treaty. This
element hopes that the President will
be candidate again and carry the
neace treaty issue into the campaign.
This situation is intensely unsatisfac-
tory, of course, to other aspirants for
the nomination. Most of them are
eager for the treaty to be got out of
the way before convention time. Will
lam Jennings Bryan's only interest in
the treaty is to remove it as a CAM
paign issue. One of the ardent back
ers of Mr.. McAdoos candidacy, Ber-
nard NJ. Baruch, recently talked com
promise with the President and then
conferred with some of the Republican
mild reservationists.
Meanwhile the only candidate to
whom the delay in any White House