Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-08-19

| Oyster Bay, n. Y, Aug 1s.-Theo-
| dore Roosevelt spent today in what was
| conference he has held since he left
| the White House. He gathered about
him a group of his close friends and
| talked over with them the situation
which is best expressed in the reports
! that relations between President Taft
and himself are strained to the break
| ing point
William Loeb. Jr. collector of the
port of New York; Lloyd c. Griscom,
chairman of the New York republican
county committee; Representative Will
liam H. Calder of Brooklyn, Frederick
J. o q; kracR he Of Br2oklyn and Repre-,
Roosevelts home district took part in
the conference
From what was said by some of the
visitors It was learned that the ex-
on plan of action which will hold
until the situation shapes itself more
clearly. Briefly stated, it is this:
The Plan of Action Agreed On.
Colonel Roosevelt is to stand aside
in the New York state campaign and
jet the old guard" fight its own fight,
and thus shoulder all the responsibility
for the conduct and result of the cam
paign- He is neither to indorse nor
criticize the Taft administration. He
is to keep out all around if he can.
Through some of today's visitors it
was learned just why the colonel has
decided to keep his hands off. He
feels that the republican state COM
nlttee in refusing to endorse him for
temporary chairman of the Saratoga
convention, position he had agreed
to accept much against his will. with
the knowledge 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 were
leading a factional fight against the
administration 1t was said that Col
onel Roosevelt does not deem it either
wise or proper to permit hims elf to
become involved in such a factiona1
right, and that his present decision is
that he will not go to the convention
or take any part which would render
him responsible. He has come to no
definite conclusion, however.
Reserves Right to Jump Into the Fight
at Any Time.
One important proviso was empha-
sized at todays conference Those with
whom he talked were made to under
stand clearly that Colonel Roosevelt
reserves to himself the right to jump
into the thick of the fight at any time
If he believes that the policies of which
he is the exponent are in serious
jeopardy But he let it be known that
he would do so with extreme reluct-
ance, for he feels that in such con-
tingencY he might be led inevitably into
a controversy with the Taft admins
tration.
From what was said after the con-
ference it was gathered that Colonel
Roosevelt believes the present attitude
of men who are influential in the ma
tional 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 juneture to
exert his influence against the admins
tration.
Those who. are closest to the ex-
pres dent believe that he Will do ev-
erythins in his power to avert such a
crisis during the fall campaign. 1t is
their opinion that if he should decide
to fight he prefers to postpone the
struggle until the 1912 campaign. when
the question of the nations policy for
the next four years is to be brought
before the entire country and when a
successor to William H. Taft is to be
elected.
Again Become Candidate for the
Presidency.
Should such an issue between Colonel
Roosevelt and the administration pre-
sent itself at that time, it is the firm
belief of the colonels intimate asso-i
ciates that he will be in the fight to
thu end that he will stake his own
future on the outcome and again be- |
come q candidate for the presidency. |
1t is believed, however that Colonel
Roosevelt regards such a situation as |
4 remote contingency which is not to !