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Show 1ST SjmSFIED 15 IjPRI 1TE Pleased That He Can Do as He Wishes; He Eschews Politics. Chicago Tribune Special Service. CHICAGO, June 22. Former President William Howard Taft, who is the guest of Governor Lowden, discouraged his Chicago Chi-cago admirers who thought possibly he might seek the Republican nomination for president next year. He told them that he was not a .candidate; .can-didate; that he hadn't been, and that he wouldn't get very far if he should be. "I am having tho time of my life," he said. "I am doing Just as I please, saying say-ing whatever I pi ease, and am free to think for myself and go where I please. I am really enjoying myself a great deal. I "I am not thinking of domestic politics, I haven't, been doing it for some time now, and I don't like to discuss domestic politics, thai iy, party politics, at this ; time. I "Of course, I realize, as any ordinary observer does, that my championship of tho league of nations has been such as to alienate the support of powerful leaders of the party. I have undoubtedly alienated alien-ated many former friends who will have considerable to say in the next. Republican Repub-lican convention. "Were I to seek the nomination I don't think I would get very far, and it is pleasant to feel that I don't have to worry over that, for I am not seeking the nomination. nom-ination. "I am giving" all my thought now to the league of nations. 1 hope the Knox reso-utiou reso-utiou will be defeated and that the covenant cove-nant will be ratified by the senate. "Jt should not be a party issue. It Is an American issue, and if the senate will ratify the covenant as an American issue it will not be an issue in the election elec-tion next year. If the senate refuses to ratify it and sends the treaty back for further amendment, it surely will be Ihrust into our national election as an issue that wlil overshadow many domestic, domes-tic, issues that should be given careful thought next year. "1 believe the Republican party stands a pood chance of winning next year, even though we do blunder on th league ol nations. Kven If tha t is an Issue the Republicans appear to be in pretty fair shape, owing to tho domestic issues. "Hut I do believe that it will make it much easier for us to elect a Republican i president next year if we will have the foresight and good sense to approve this; covenant right away and take it out of 1 next year's campaign. i "But. however this may be, I am not a 1 cn ndidate. Many of the lea ders of my party would not' support a champion of the league of nations, and in taking that attitude they are opposing the history and traditions ol the Republican party. "The Republican party can, with perfect per-fect consistency, support the covenant at this time, and by so doing would be upholding up-holding its traditional aim of bringing peace and commercial development to all the nations of the earth. "In any event, I hope the league issue wlil be taken out of our domestic politics next year by the ratification of the treaty . and league covenant by the present congress." |