Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-19

|. PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 49,
Governor Theodore Roosevelt has
made as specific a refusal of the nom
nation for Vice President as he could
possibly make in view of the fact that
the nominating convention has not met
and that few of the delegations have
caucused.
Standing in a small room facing a
crowd of newspaper men this after
noon he made the following statement,
reading it from a couple of cheets of
manuscript:
I'm view of the revival of the talk
of myself as a Vice Presidential candi-
date, l have this to say: 1t is impossible
to express how deeply touched l am by
the attitude of those delegates who
have wished me to take this nomi-
nation. Moreover, it is not necessary
to say how thoroughly l understand
the high honor and dignity of the Office
an office SO high and so honorable
that it is well worthy the ambition of
any man in the United States. But
while | appreciate all this to the full,
l nevertheless feel most deeply that
the field of my best usefulness to the
public and to the party is in New
York State, and if the party should see
fit to renominate me for Governor,
can in that position help the national
ticket as in no other way. 1 very ear
nestiy ask that every friend of mine in
the convention respect my wish and
my judgment in this matter"
The document was in his own hand
writing, in lead pencil, and he read it
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
Congressman Littauer and Sherman,
Of New York, and Prof. 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 E. Quigg
and B. B. Odell, of the New York or
ganization. AS the Governor read
and waited for the newspapermen to
write down the statement, he frequent
ly glanced in the direction of the
group of politicians. When he finish
ed he said:
Gentlemen. that is all; I have moth
ing more to say"
Mr.. Littaeur said he thought the
statement timely and believed that it
would give the delegates who were
friendly to Governor Roosevelt
An Idea of the Situation.
And l don't mean by that" he said,
rather aggressively, "the Pennsylvania
delegation or those who for Interior
motives are pressing the governors
nomination"
Then Mr.. Quigg and Mr.. Frank Platt
simultaneously declared that they be-
lieved the statement unwise and they
left the room refusing to talk to the
waiting newspapermen. The state
ment acted as a cold water douche on
those members of the New York dele
cation who had planned to nominate
some other candidate for governor
than Mr.. Roosevelt. However. the
statement was received by many OF the
delegations as a mere reiteration of
Roosevelt's original declaration of lack
of desire for the nomination. Several
delegates expressed the opinion that
the situation would not change and
that if Roosevelt's name was presented
to the convention he would be nomin-
ated and would not dare to refuse.
1t is pointed u as significant that
Governor Roosevelt will not assent
that he will decline the Office if nom
mated. He hopes, however, with the
aid of Senator Hanna to defeat the
plan to nominate him.
Senator Lodge contradicts the cur
rent report concerning his u~tterances
in the conferences in Governor Roose-
velts rooms today in which he partici-
pated with the governor and Senator
Hanna. lie says that he went to Gov
ernor Roosevelt's Don a supporter OF
Secretary Long and that the governor
knew his position.
Il have been a personal friend of
Governor Rooseyelt's for many years.
he said. and as his friend it would
be impossible for me to take the posi-
ton 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 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 inventions"