The Washington times., 1920-01-29
W|[SONMUM
: ON 3RD TERM
Maintains Reserve In Spite OF
Subtle Efforts to Draw
81. Him Out.
WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMs.
International News Service.


but quite surely recovering from his
long illness. has no intention OF de-
clinins In advance the nomination
for third term. Men In close touch
with the White House state this with
the force of positive conviction.
't Try TO Draw Him.
Sundry and subtle efforts to draw
the President from his reserve are
under way now. and others have
been made in the past, but thus far
all have met with signal failure
While many, II Is said, would Wiling
ly give the last few years on the rag
end of their lives to know definitely
what is in his mind-Domocrats as
we'll as Republicans-only q decided
change in the general political SIT
uation, II is believed. would cause him
to grant them their wish.
The unconditional ratification OF the
Treaty of Versailles, the feeling is'
would, in the Presidents opinion
AFFORD such q change. Its ratinca-
tien with only interpretative reserva-
tions might likewise be SO regarded
A Political Enisms.
Otherwise. political long-heads de-
clare, the President must remain
political enigma They admit that
strateEically he holds a commanding
position. dug in as he is on his silent
heights, and from this strong point
. he will dominate his party through
out the pre-convention campaign.
Democrats freely own up to the
fear that William Jennings Bryan
may try to stampede the party when
IL gathers at San Francisco next
June. splitting the party as Theodore
Roosevelt did the Republicans in 1912.
should this. or any similar emergency
arise, the potential candidacy OF
President Wilson for another term in
the White House would, in the opinion
of political tacticians, likely enough
save the day. not only for the party,
but for the Presidents endangered
policies by which he sets such store.
LIkened To 4. r.. Effort.
Theoretically a distinct outsider,
Colonel Roosevelt, in 1916. by very
similar move, 1t is pointed out, COM
pletely dominated the Republican
convention In Chicago, securing the
nomination of Charles Evans Hughes
against the wishes of all the Old
Guard. as we'll as the adoption Of his
personal policies as the party plat
form.
Roosevelt held his own candidacy
like a club over the heads of the Re-
publican party. and, by manipulating
il through his lieutenants attending
the Bull Moose convention, held ST.
mul ultaneously with that Of the Re-
spubIlcans. frustrated the nomination
of anybody save one Agreeable 70
him. .
Even after Hughc3 had been duly
political historians recall.
and he. himself. had been given the
nomination by the Progressives. he
sent his refusal with one accompany
ing instructions that such refusal was
to stand only IL Hughes proved to be
sound"
II q "pussy footed, pacifistic. pro-
German" policy were advocated, he in
formed the Republicans he would
withdraw his refusal and run any
how.
A similar situation is regarded as
possible when the Democrats get to-
gether next June in San Francisco.
Sacred To President.
The policy OF America living up to
her international obligations Is es
sacred to the President to put II but
mildly, as Roosevelt's Preparedness