THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 9 March 1912, Page 5

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.

MR ROOSEVELT'S NOMINATION;

(Press Association.—Copy eight.}

(Rec. March 9, 8.45 a.m.) KANSAS CITY, March 8. The first presidential primary held in the United States endorsed Mr Roosevelt's nomination. The omen is regarded as a good .one by the friends of Mr Roosevelt. MR ROOSEVELT'S PLEDOE. In a recent issue the Springfield "Republican" published Mr Roosevelt'e pledge, uttei-ed on Bth November, 1904, after his re-election, to the effect that he would not accept nomination for a third term. On 11th December, Mi* Roosevelt reiterated his pledge, thus* —"On the 4th of March riext, I shall have served three arid a-half years, and this three and a-haif veai's- constitute my first term. The wise custom which limits the president to two terms l'egards the substance and not the form, and under no circumstances will 1 be a candidate for or accept another nomination.' The "Springfield Republican" comments: " 'Under no circumstances' would he 'accept another nomination.' No condition, no time limit was imposed : it was oh unqualified and absolute declaration of ah unalterable. purpose. Perhaps Governor Stubbe would be.entirely unconcerned, but the candidate would find his declaration dogging him from-June to November.

"Men like Governor Stubbs cannot liave seriously considered the obstacles | to the election of Mr. Roosevelt to a third term as President of tho United I States. What makes them 'sure' that ! lie would be victorious? The political j conditions of 1904 ' cannot be restored, and 1904 was the year of tho one great j triumph of his career. There is no great public exigency, no grave national crisis that requires his elevation .to office _as tho 'indispensable man.' His nomination would involve the humiliation of President Tai't and be an affivnt to both him and his friends no less, serious than the failure of the democratic national convention of 1896 to indorse the administration of President Cleveland. He could not hope for such a heavy democratic vote as he reecived in 1804, on account of the defection of the Bryanites from the Parker candidacy. The democrats may not be absolutely united, but they will come much nearer to unitv than before in 20 years. Nor could Mr Roosevelt hope for tho Catholic vote which he received when he ran last. The Vatican incident of the spring of 1910 will not bo. forgotten. "The nomination of Mr Rocsevelt would precipitate the bitterest and most desperate fight upon him that h e has yet experienced. How he could survive at the ballot box his record as the friend and protector of the steel trust pusses the ordinary understanding. But above all, his liking for personal government, his restless chafing under tho restraints of law, his brazen indifference when the mood seized him to the constitutional limitations upon executive power would raise against him such a cry of Caesarism as America had never heard before. "The notion of a vast and irresistible tiopular demand for him is too ridiculous to be entertained for a moment bv sane minds. His nomination would mean simply a successful stampede engineered bv the men of one partv who cannot view with composure another term for the present incumbent of the Presidential office nor the loss of the Government to the partv which has been in opnosition for 16' years. Tho attempt under s.uch circumstances to capture the United States for a, popular hero who had, solemnly pledged himself rieviir to 'accent, another nomination would _deserved! v arouse the most, interne . antigoniprvi, and. with a r-uitable democratic candidate, it would end ruin."