Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-06-13
PRESIDENT FAvORS TAFT
Executive Demands That Delegates
Stick to Taft.
WHAT THE LETTER SAID
Declared in Epistie to Wes. vir-
ginian Any Other Course Would
Be Embarrassing.

&c embarrassing.
Cincinnati. June s.-The Enquirer
prints the following from Washing
| ton:
| President Roosevelt requested that
! the delegates be informed that he
wanted no one PROCESSING to be
friend of his to vote for him In the
convention or continue this talk OF
third term.
I, ON the contrary ne urged these
men TO abide by their instructions
and support Secretary Taft, whom he
said he desired to see nominated. Any
other course. the president said in
his letter, would bring adverse criti-
cism upon them and be extremity en-
barassing 10 himself.
He regarded 1t as their absolute
duty, as honorable men. to abide by
their instructions. The president
stated also that he was firmly CON
| WINGED Taft would be nominated on
the first ballot"
+; The foregoing is an epitome OF the
contents of letter written by the
president to personal friend in West
Virginia after he heard of the declara-
| ton of Charles #. Teter and George
w. Curtin. two delegates from West
Virginia, that they Intended to bolt
their Taft instructions and vote for
the denomination of the president.
The recipient OF the presidents let
tier was unwilling that his name
should be used nor under any circum.
| stances would he allow the text Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's letter to be printed.
The pnrport Of its contents. howev
er. was given out by the man who re.
ceived the letter and who Is charged
with the duty Of letting those two
delegates know that the president IS
Edispleased with their misdirected
good intentions toward himself and Is
anxious that Secretary Taft should re.
iceive every vote possible at Chicago,
otilt WaHtS o BOX.
1t is not definitely known whether
Colonel Teter has changed his mind
or not. He has been made aware OF
the presidents views, but is still in
clined to bolt. He has made no
pledge not. Mr.. Curtin was sim
ilarly enlightened Monday. Mr.. Teter
was one OF the first men in the state
to declare for Taft, and his subse
quent espousal OF the third-term
cause created much astonishment
Both Teter and Curtin are big men
lin the West Virginia delegation. hut
it is doubtful If they can swing many
OF their associates against the presi
dents wishes. The republicans were
largely for the president until he
eliminated himself. and, believing that
the president knows best who will
conduct the government along the
lines he has laid down, they now seem
to be Enthusiastically supporting the
war secretary.
The Enquirer was told today of the
work of a special agent OF the Stand
ard Oil Co., who spent two weeks in
West Virginia and who admitted that
he was but one of the many now ac.
lively discussing political questions
and the availability of candidates
wherever it was thought vote conld
be changed to Roosevelt from Taft. or
from uninstructed districts.
] According to this agent, managing
heads Of the railway systems Of the
country, of the big steel mills, OF the
Standard Oil Co and allied industries,
demand Roosevelts denomination. not
because they love him particularly.
but because they believe he has the
lpeople with him and his nomination
would be equivalent TO an election no
matter who the opposing candidate
may be. Nominate Roosevelt on the
18th Of june" they say, "and the
ways present from the day OF the
nomination to the day OF the election
will not exist. Business at once can
adjust tself; prosperity will return
with his nomination; shops win open
up full time; money will not be close
~ guarded awaiting the return Of the
ballots. No man can defeat Roose-
welt: the people are with him and Mr.
Roosevelt con control them.
Would Cause Uncertainty.
With Taft as the candidate. Y these
Interests assert there Is a strong ele-
ment OF uncertainty and the country