The Washington herald., 1907-04-05
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACE.

promise to use it in his own State to help
carry out the alleged plan to prevent Mir.
Roosevelt from controlling the national
convention.
Took Place Month Ago.
The dinner at which Mr. Penrose is
said to have talked so freely took place
about a month ago II was indicated at
the White House that as soon as the
President learned of what had been re-
yeaied he made inquiries. which confirmed
what he had been told. The movement.
il was said. ,was widespread. 1t was very
stroDe in Pennsylvania, Mr.. Penrose's
State, and had extended elsewhere, par
ticuiarly in the West.
Philander Chase Knox. Mr.. PenrOses
colleague in the Senate, and former Attor-
ney General in Mr.. Roosevelts Cabinet, Is
Pennsylvania fav0rite son. but il was
emphatically declared at the White House
yesterday that Mr.. Knox would never be
a party TO any plot OF opposition to Mr..
Roosevelt. and would not countenance the
mention Of his name for the Presidency if
he had reason to believe that he was TO be
used TO injure the President
Explains Actions of states.
The President was also able 10 explain
by this plot something that had hitherto
been unexplainable. Il indicated to him
why legislatures had been indorsing him
for another term. And Immediately the
President began 10 block the efforts Of the
combination. He was especially success
ful in Michigan.
The plan there was TO declare for ROose-
welt without a second choice. The Presi-
dent stepped in. Wrenched that State from
the clutches OF the administration, and
Taft was pronounced a second choice. The
scheme was tried also in North and South
Dakota, but there again was thwarted by
the Presidents friends.
Hartman and ROckefeIIers Ia.
Tuesday E. h Hartman and the Rock
efeliers were accused at the White House
Of being the financial hackers of the re-
ported combination TO defeat the Presi-
dents political purposes. 1t was not
clear. however. how the President got
the information he is said TO possess that
these big fnanciers are involved in the
reported Roosevelt movement. Moth
ing was disclosed yesterday to indicate
clearly that Senator Penrose had named
them as among his associates in the
combination Of which he is said to have
told.
How William r. Hearst is interested in
the Republican game is also a mystery.
Cannot Manage Taft's Race.
Those close 70 the President say he hest
tates TO come out for the nomination Of
Secretary Taft. It was stated autherita-
lively yesterday that it might become
necessary for him to identify himself
with the pre-convention campaign, de-
clare himself for the man of his choice.
and appeal TO the country for support
He will not attempt that, at least not for
the present He is still a little uncertain
about Secretary Taft's running qualities.
He wants Taft to show that he can fight
for himself On a recent occasion. after
expressing admiration for his Secretary
of War; the President added that he
could not be Mr.. Taft's campaign man
ager.
Some Senators who yesterday heard
the account of the statement, thought the
statements attributed TO Mr.. Penrose were
the products of a cOnvivial evening, and
not TO be Interpreted too literally. One
wise old campaigner, who once bore the
brunt Of a Presidential struggle, ikened
it to the -frothy talk in the Senate
cioakTOom.
VIII watch Foraker.
The President IS also bent on trouble
If Senator Foraker does not let him alone
in Ohio. The Senator is scheduled 10 de-
liver d speech at Canton next Wednes-
day The President viii watch that
aker attacks him or his administration.
the White House will be heard from
forthwith,
With the many political reports of a
highly entertaining character coming
from the White House. washington was
ringing yesterday with third-term talk.
The politicians argue that the fight viii
become so intense the President will have
to accept Il nomination, because he would
be far stronger with the country fight
ing for himself than he would be light
ing for any favorite. The President gives
no countenance whatever to this kind of
talk. He is as firm as on the night of the
last election when he issued his statement
He welcomes the tight. however, and does
not expect 10 be overthrow.
shows Up CaPpaign Fund.
cse highly interesting item, entirely
authoritative. has grown cut of the Web
ster letter. II is that the campaign fund
OF 1904 amounted to S2,j00,000 Chairman
Cortelyou. on November of that year.
issued statement saying that this fund
although made up of contributions from
more than 1900 persons. had been about
ha,s as large as the Republican fund
when Mckinley was elected in 1896. and
about half IS large as the Democratic
fund when President Cleveland was elect
ed in lss2.
Mr.. Cortelyou added in that statement
that the fund had come from voluntary
contribution, made without demand, inn