The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-08-19
Cannon SEES
TAFT'S HAND IN
Fight On HIN
Speaker Thinks President In
spired LOngwOrth's Repu-
diation OF Him
Roosevelt Decides to Keep His
Hands Off New York State
Campaign

erick ). II. Kracke Of Brooklyn and
Representative W. w Cocks of Roose-
velt's home district took part in the
conference.
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
From what was said by some Of the
visitors, it was learned that the
colonel and his friends have agreed on
a plan Of action which viii hold until
the situation shapes itself more clearly.
Briefly stated, it is this: Colonel
Roosevelt is to stand aside in the New
York state campaign and let the "old
guard" fight its own fight, and thus
shoulder all the responsibility for the
conduct and result OF the campaign.
He is neither TO iadorse nor criticise
The Taft administration. He is to keep
out all around if he can.
Through some Of toJay's visitors it
was learned why the colonel has de-
cided TO keep his hands off. He feels
that the republican state committee, in
refusing to indorse him for temporary
chairman Of the Saratoga convention
a position he had agreed to accept,
much against his viii, with the knowl-
edge that he would be held responsible
for election results-acted in a manner
that would make further activity on
his part look as if he was leading
factional night against the administra
tion.
Tt was said that Roosevelt does not
deem il either wise OF proper TO per-
nit himself 10 become involved in such
factional fight and that his present
decision is that he viii not go TO the
convention or take any part which
would render him responsible. He has
come to no definite conclusion, how
ever.
READY TO ENTER FIGHT
One important provision was empha-
sized at tOday's conference. Those with
whom he talked were made TO under
stand clearly that Roosevelt reserves
to himself the right to enter the thick
of the fight at any time, If he believes
that the policies of which he is the
exponent are in jeopardy. But he let
it be known that he would do so with
much reluctance, for he feels that in
such a contingency he might be led
inevitably into a controversy with the
Taft administration. From what was
said after the conference it was gath
cred that Roosevelt believes the pres
ent attitude OF men who are influential
in the national administration is hos
tile 10 him and that an open rupture
may result. In such a case the colonel
feels that he may be compelled at some
juncture TO exert his influence against
the administration.
Those who are closest to the colonel
believe he VIII do everything in his
power 10 avert such a crisis during the
fan campaign It is their opinion that
il he should decide TO fight, he prefers
10 postpone the struggle until the 1912
campaign. when the question OF the ma
VI *
10 be brought before the country. and
when c successor TO W. II. Taft is TO be
elected.
IN FIGHT TO FINISH
Should such an issue between Roose-
Welt and the administration present
itself at that time, it is the belief of
the coloneIs intimate associates that
he win be in the fight to the end-that
he viii stake his own future on the
outcome ana again become candidate
Tor the presidency. IL is believed. how
ever that Roosevelt regards such de-
cision as remote contin gency which
IS not TO receive serious attention at
present
He has said repeatedly that he can
form 10 plans for the future. for the
situation may be changed at any time.
lie has told his friends that he is a
candidate for no Office and that he can
conceive OF no circumstances which
would lead him to accept the guber-
material nomination or a seat in the
United States senate.
His associates believe the only rea-
son which might lead him to consider
becoming a candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination would be the conviction
that he must seek another term in
order successfully to carry on the work
lie began while president.
The conference broke up late today
without any definite agreement as TO
when another viii be held. Roose-
Welt viii start for the west Tuesday
and probably there will be no more
consultations of this nature until after
his return. Most of the time today
was given TO the consideration of the