Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-20
ROOSEVELT WILL HOLD OFF
Agrees to Keep Out of New York
Politics This Campaign.
LOCAL FACTIONS FIGHT IT OUT
Colonel Agrees Not TO Take Sides
During the Contest--Reserves
Tthe Right 20 Enter "a


hc has held since he left the White House. /
He gathered about him group of his close |
friends and talked over with them the sit /
uatlon which is best expressed in the re- |
ports that relations between President Taft |
and himself are strained 90 the breaking |
point.
William J.. Loeb jr.. collector of the port |
OF New York; Lloyd c. Griscom, chairman |
of the New York republican county COM !
nltteet Representative William NJ. Calder
Of Brooklyn. Frederick J. H. Knacke OF
Brooklyn, and Representative w. W. Cocks
of Colonel Roosevet's home district took
part IN the conference.
From what said by some of the visit
tors Il was learned that the colonel and
his friends have agreed on a plan of action
which win 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
guard9 fight it's own fight and thus shoulder
all the responsibility for the conduct and
result of the campaign. He is neither to
indorse nor criticise the Taft administra-
tion He is to keep out all around II he
can.
visitors Give Reasons.
Through some Of today's visitors II was
learned why the colonel had decided to keep
his hands off. He feels that the republican
for temporary chairman OF the Saratoga
conventions position he had agreed 20
accept much against his will, with the
knowledge that he would be responsible for
election results-acted in manner that
would make further activity on his part
. Nlook as II he were leading a fractional fight
against the administration.
y 1t was said that Colonel Roosevelt does
not deem It either wise or proper to permit
himself TO become involved in such a fac
tional fight and that his present decision
ia that ne will not go to the convention or
take any part which would render him re-
sponsibe, He has come to no definite de-
cision however.
May Enter Fight.
One important provision was emphasized
at todayW conference Those with whom
he talked were made to understand clearly
that Colonel Roosevelt reserves to himself
the right to enter the thick of the fight at
any time, IL he believes that the policies of
which he is an exponent are in Jeopardy.
But he let 1t be known that he would do
SO with extreme reluctance, for he feels
that In such contingency he might be led
inevitably into controversy with the Taft
administration.
From what was said after the conference
it was gathered that Colonel Roosevelt be-
lieves the present attitude OF men who are
influenced In the national administration is
hostile to him, and that an open rupture
may result In such case the colonel feels
that he may be compelled at some juncture
to exert his influence against the admins
tration.
Those who are closest to the colonel be
leve that he win do everything In MS
power TO avert such crisis during the fall
campaign. 'sIt is their opinion that II he
should decide to fight he prefers TO posi-
pone- the struggle until the 1912 campaign
when the question of the nations policy
for the next four years is to be brought
before the country, and when a successor
to William H. Taft is to be elected.
May Run Again.
should such an issue between Colone
Roosevelt and the administration presen
itself at that time It Is the belief OF tn
NKolonera intimate associates that he vii
~ in the fight to the endi that he vii
stake his own future the outcome en-
again become a candidate for the presi
dency y It Is believed, however, tina
Colonel Roosevelt regards such a situatb'
az q remote contingency which Is not :
receive serious attention at the preseu
time.
He has said repeatedly that he can forr
no plars for the future, for the situatio
may be changed at any time. He has toll
his friends that he is candidate for n
office and that he can conceive OF no ciI
cumstance which would lead him to az
cept the gubernatorial nomination or
seat IN the United States senate.
HIS associates believe that the onl
reason which might lead him to conside
be l~RminR candidate for the presidenti'
nomination would be the conviction the
he must have another term in order
y, successfully carry on the work he bega
while president The conference broke u
late today without any definite agreemei
as to when another will be held.
\ Colonel Roosevelt Is to start for the we
ON Tuesday and probably there will be I
more consultations OF this nature unit
after Colonel Roosevelt returns. Most
the time today was given TO the considers
don of the New York situation. which
,egarded as the one thing which may d
yelop in such way as to force Colon
Roosevelt to make the fight within Il
party.
From an unquestloned source It is know
that he has been taken deeply to hea
what he considers to be the hostility
men close 10 the administration. and
regards The selection OF Vice Preside
Sherman for the temporary ehairmansh
OF the republican state convention as q
result Of this attitude He recalled
his Vlsltors thAt no "e0 eP0NN'A ~ w
Of criticism OF the administration and MAJ
them understand that II was his plan n
to do so, adding that he would eonfi
himself solely TO q policy OF affirmati'
OF the doctrines which he considers to
the best interests of the nation, looking
the future and not TO the past.
Colonel Roosevelt himself said he W
not talking politics for publication VIII
attempts were made after the conferen
to get him 20 express his views. He W
20 TO New York tomorrow and In I
afternoon will address the Negro Busine
Mems league.
President AstOnlRhed at News.
HOPEDALE, Mass, Aug. 1S-Preside
Taft ls spending the night as the guest
Governor Draper at his home at this plac
The president motored down from Bever
4 this afternoon. making the sixty miles