The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-19

His Formal Announcement That He
Docs Not wish the Nomination.


Docs Not Wish the Nomination.
PHILADELPHIA, June Ex-Governor
Theodore Roosevelt has made as specific
refusal OF the nomination for Vice Presi-
dent as he could possibly make in view of
the fact that the nominating convention
has not met and that few of the delega-
tions caucused. Standing in a small room
facing crowd of newspaper men this
afternoon he made the following statement
reading IL from couple of sheets of man
uscript:
I'm view or the revival OF the talk of
myself as the vice presidential candidate
i have this 10 say: IL Is. impossible too
deeply to express how touched am by the
attitude OF the delegates who have wished
me to take nomination. Moreover. 1t
Is not necessary to say how thoroughly /
understand the high honor and dignity of
the office. an office so high and honorable
that IL Is well worthy the ambition of any
man in the United States. But while L
appreciate all this to the full. / neverthe-
less feel most deeply that the field of my
party is in New York State, and il the
party should see fit to renominate me for
Governor. can, in that position, help the
national ticket as in no other way. i very
earnestly ask that every friend of mine in
the convention respect my wish and my
judgment in this matter
The document was in his own handwrit-
ing and In lead pencil copy. and he read
IL with the same complacence that he
would have given a platform speech. The
scene bordered on the dramatic. Sitting
near him as he spoke were Representatives
Littauer and Sherman of New York. and
Professor jerks, of Columbia College, who
have all along urged the Governor not to
accept. Just behind the row of newspaper
men stood Frank Plat. Lemuel Quigg and
b. b. Odell, of the New York Republican
organization. AS the Governor read and
waited for the newspaper men TO write
down the statement he frequently glanced
in the direction of the group of politicians.
Wien he finished he said:
Gentlemen that is all. / have nothing
more TO say
LITTAUER'S VIEWS.
Mr.. Littauer said he thought the state
ment timely, and believed that 1t would
give the delegates who were friendly to
Governor Roosevelt an idea of the situa-
ton. And don't mean by that" he said
rather aggressively, 'the Pennsylvania
delegation those who. for Interior mo-
tives. are pressing the Governors nominal
ton"
Then Mr. Quigg and Mr.. Frank PIatt
simultaneously declared that they believed
the statement unwise. and they left the
room, refusing to talk to the waiting news
paper men, The statement acted as cold
water douche on those members of the
New York delegation who had planned to
nominate some other candidate for Cover
nor than Mr.. Roosevelt. However. the
delegations as mere reiteration of Roose-
velts original declaration Of lack Of desire
for the nomination Several delegates ex-
pressed the opinion that the situation
would not change. and that If Roosevelt's
name was presented to the convention he
would be nominated and would not dare
20 refuse.
1t is pointed out as significant that Gov.
Roosevelt will not assert that he will de-
cline the office If nominated He hopes,
however, with the aid of Senator Hanna. to
defeat the plan to nominate him.
Senator Lodge contradicts the current re-
port concerning his utterances in confer
ence in Governor Roosevelt's room to-day,
in which he participated with the Governor
and Senator Hanna. He says that he went
to Governor Roosevelt's rooms as sup
porter of Secretary Long, and that the
Governor knew his position. 81 have been
personal friend Of Governor Roosevelt
for many years. said he. land his
friend il would be impossible for me to
take the position there attributed to me- or
to use the language placed in my mouth.
He does not want the Office, and there is
no reason why it should be forced upon
him. He knows how / feel, and he knows
that I am for Long first. last and all the
time. The whole story is a tissue of in
ventions."
HANNA'S FIGHT.
II has been a day OF conferences on the
vice presidential situation. Beginning with
a gathering I'm the room of Governor Roose-
welt, attended by Senator Hanna, Senator
Lodge and Mr.. Odell, Of New York, it was
continued in the rooms of Senator Hanna
later when nearly all the leaders in the
city were from time to time in conference
with the chairman OF the national commit
tee. There were Senators Allison, Scott,
Elkins. Carter. Lodge. Burrows. Shoup.
also Mr.. Bliss, besides many representa-
tives of the New York leaders, both Gov
ernor Roosevelt and Senator Plat being
represented. When the last man had dis