Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-17
Republican State Committee Refuses TO Name Him
After Contest for Temporary Chairman Of State
Convention at Saratoga Vice President
James s. Sherman Is Chosen Instead.

New York, Aug. 16.-Theodore Roose
welt matched strength with the "Old
Guard" of the Republican party in
New York state today and met decis-
I've defeat. The Republican state com
mittee in session here, by vote of 20
to Is. refused to recommend him for
temporary chairman of the state con-
vention, which will meet at Saratoga
Sept q. Instead, Vice President James
S. Sherman was selected
This is Col. Roosevelt's second de-
| feat at the hands of the "Old GuarG,
the first having been the Legislatures
refusal to pass the Cobb direct primary
bill. although Mr.. Roosevelt especial
L. endorsed it. With his setback today
plans for harmony within the partysin
| the state received a severe setback,
| ana as soon as Col. Roosevelt heard
the news he issued a statement in
| which he enrolled himself as a Pro-
| gressive so far as the New York state
situation goes.
1t was his most pointed political
| statement since his return and those
who saw him were convinced that he
had determined to begin an open fight
| on the "Old Guard" The statement
follows:
ITO the various persons who asked
me whether 1 would accept the posi-
ton of temporary chairman of the
state convention, | said that l would
do so only if they We're sure. after
knowing my attitude that they desired
me. because my speech would be of
such a character that it might help if
| the convention nominated the right
kind of a man on clear cut. progress
i sive platform; but that it would hurt
if neither the right kind of a man
were nominated nor the right kind of
a platform adopted
Although repudiated today. it does
not necessarily mean that Col. Roose-
Welt will not be temporary chairman
after all.
The convention delegates them
selves will decide who is to open the
meeting and deliver the Keynote
speech" but the state committees rec
concentration of Mr.. Sherman for the
place served notice on the former
President and his supporters that the
I"Old Guard" would give him a fight to
the end. In the interval between now
land Sept. 81. it is expected that the
Istruggle between the organization and
the Roosevelt Hughes forces will be
carried into every corner of the state.
Whether Mr.. Sherman lent his sup
port to the movement which resulted
in Col Roosevelt's defeat has not been
established definitely William l..
Ward of Westchester national com
mitteeman, who was one of the lead
ers in the anti Roosevelt combine. is
4 quoted as having said that Mr.. Sher-
| man knew all about the plans to make
him, and not Col. Roosevelt temporary
chairman Others who took part in
today's meeting were of the opinion
that Mr.. sherman knew nothing of it.
So far as Col Roosevelt is concerned,
it has been known for some time that
he was agreeably inclined to the plan
to make him temporary chairman as is
shown by his statement of today. He
said, however, that he had not under
! stood that his name was to be brought
up at today's meeting.
l LLOYD c. Griscom. chairman of the
New York county committee. who
presented the colonel's name today
said this evening:
Il don't know whether today's action
bv the committee will have any effect
on Mr. Roosevelt's attitude during the
state camfaign. Mr.. Roosevelt is to be
a delegate to the state convention. 1t
seems to me that as the only living
ex-President of the United States, the
party in this state owes him at least
the temporary chairmanship.
Mr. Taft, so far as | know. did not
anticipate that Col. RoOsevelts name
would be presented to the committee.
If he had known it he would have pre-
vented the action that was taken. The
selection of Vice President Sherman
cannot be construed as an endorse
ment of the Taft administration, which
needed no such endorsement"
Colonel Roosevelt took lunch with
Mr.. Ward after the meeting. The only
thing that is known as to what he said
to the national committeeman Is that
he laughed and told him he under
stood now why Mr.. Ward and other
members of the state committee were
not anxious to meet him until after
today's meeting. William Barnes. Jr.,
of Albany, was to have gone to see
; Col Roosevelt directly on his return
J from abroad, but although he came
back three weeks ago, he had not been
near the ex-President until today.
when he dropped in at the hotel where
Col. Roosevelt and Mr.. Ward were at
; luncheon Mr.. Barnes said that if on
the question of direction nominations
; alone he would oppose Col. Roosevelt
for the temporary Craftsmanship.
Rep. John w. Dwight, Republican
! whip of the House, also saw Col
Roosevelt at luncheon. He did not
Icare to discuss their conversation.
Col. Roosevelt had planned to keep