Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-26
COOLIDGE TALKS
Does Not Seek Presi-
dental Nomination
Bay State Governor Makes Plain
STAND on Observation-Disclosures Hint
That He Is Using Office 70 Pro-
mote His Own interests in Seiee-
tion Of Delegates

Boston. Mass. Jan. @5.-Goy. Cool
idge declared today that ne was NOT
and never had been a candidate for
President and that he would not en-
ter contest for the Massa chusetts
delegation TO the Republican national
convention He cid not say that he
would oppose the present attention
OF his name a. Chicago bat was en-
phatlc IN his assertion thu. ne would
not permit the Imputation that ne
had used the Office of governor nor
to promote his own interests through
the selection Of delegates.
In = formal statement Tor tht. press
Gov, Coolidge said that the curse al
the present was the almost UNI
versa Erasping for power"
For himself ne was not Insensioie
20 the honor sought for him by 9TH
e-s but the efforts Of his friends did
not contemplate a contest for dele
gates IL his own state. Inasmuch
as some Massachusetts people" in
tended to make one the question
arose whether he ought 20 permit
d contest in his name. He answered
the question in the negative
The Governors statement follows:
The times require Of men charged
with public responsibility single
ness Of purpose. The curse Of the
present is the almost universal grasp
ing for power in the high places and
in low 10 the exclusion OF the dis
charge of obligations. Ii is always
Well Tor men 10 wax -Rumbiy.
The great Office Of governor of
Massachusetts has been twice con-
ferred upon me There is no higher
honor IN the gift Of her people. There
is only one higher honor in the gift
OF the people of the nation. For
that Office my name has been pro
posed by men whose judgment en-
titles their decisions Z great respect
and their proposal has not been I'm
supported by q most respectable pub
lie approva,. For al this ! am deep
~ appreciative with an upprecia-
ton which words alone cannot ex-
press. There must be acts TO cor
respond.
AShS. AVE Sill @tA1G ftIpGIIt
candidate for President.
y have never accep &c. unless ny ST.
lence, efforts made by statesmen Of
more than national reputation 10 pre-
sent my name 10 the convention. !
have made It plain I could not seek
this office.
Some weeks ago Il was reported TO
me certain forces IL Massachusetts de-
sired to support me. No con EST for
delegates has ever been con en- lated
have haG no pu-pcse 10 enter such con-
test. The proha IL outcome OF a con-
test need not De consi- erec at all. II is
enough To know that some Massachu-
sets people nter1 10 MAKE one. The
question Is whether l ought TO permit
a contest II my name for delegates IT
my own state
- have taken no pos tio7 from which
I need 10 withdraw ! 90 not wish &c
emEa-ra5s anyone. l have a great de-
sire TO walk humhIy and discharge my
obligations. My paramount obligation
is not 10 expose the great office Of gov
ernor but to guard and protect il. The
people are entitled 10 know that their
ofhce is 10 De administered not for my
benefit but FOR their benefit
There must De no irputation. how
ever uneounded, that ! permit heir Of
fee TO De used anywhere for manipu-
iative purposes cannot consent to
have their Office taken into any cont
for delegate. IT my own SAFE I have
not been and I am not a candidate for
President
Il do rot pretend to be striving for
the higa honor to which my name has
been brought The support Of the peo-
pie has touched me For all this am
not LACKING in gratitude
But the great fact remains hat il is
a time TO counsel not with desire but
with duty. My duty. clear. plain, IN
eouivocai. is TO the people Of Massachu-
sets, urafraid, order'v patriotic. Amer
ican, in the discharge OF avery duty an
example TO the nation"