Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-08-18
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT
Rumored Rupture Between the Former
President and His successor-Roose-
Welt VIII Not Endorse the Taft Adj
ministration.

ministration.
New York, Aug. 1S.-Staff cores
pondents OF the World, Sun and Her
aid unite today in their dispatches
from Oyster Bay in declaring that an
omen rupture exists between President
Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.
The Herald story says: Theodore
Roosevelt will not endorse the Taft adj
ministration. The final break between
the president and his predecessor came
with the election by the republican
committee of Vice-President Sherman
as temporary chairman of the Saratoga
convention. These assurances come
tonight from an absolutely authentic
source. There will be no peace truce
between Sycamore Hill and Beverly.
Those close to Mr.. Roosevelt make
the startling charge that a political
deal was entered into between Mr..
Woodruff, William Ward, republican
national committeeman, and Vice
President Sherman on one hand, and
the close political advisers of President
Taft on the other, whereby Mr.. Wood
ruff was TO be reelected state chair
man and Mr.. Sherman temporary
chairman OF the state convention. Mr..
Woodruff has pledged to President
Taft the New York delegation to the
national convention in 1912 in return
for the presidents support.
The erstwhile president will have
no word OF criticism for the man whom
he chose as his successor in the White
House. 1t will not be surprise, how
ever. to those who are close to Mr..
Roosevelt, if he finds himself placed
i'm such position that he will be forced
TO become an avowed candidate for
the presidential nomination in 1912. d"
The Sun story says: 1t can positive
" be stated that Mr.. Taftand Mr.. Roose-
Welt have broken. From trustworthy
sources it can be stated tonight that the
turning down OF Roosevelt is taken by
Roosevelt men to be the result OF a
deal between the administration and
members Of the New York state com
mittec whereby the old guard is to hand
over its delegates to Taft in 1912 in re-
turn for the administration backing
in the forthcoming campaign. Con
ferences between the president and
Woodruff, Ward and Sherman follow
ed the defeat Of the direct nominations
bill, which Roosevelt endorsed. "
The World story SAYS: Between
President Taft and Theodore Roose-
welt, who made President Taft, there is
a complete break that appears so wide
that no bridge can be thrown across it.
With his eyes open, Roosevelt is said
10y his friends to have let Griscom lead
him TO the slaughter It's understood
that he knew at the time that some Of
the New York state leaders had prom
ised President Taft that if he would
stand by them in the state fight this
fall. they would stand by him when it
came to a question or delegates for the
national convention in 1912. This
argument is said to have so appealed to
the president that he expressed apprc-
citation OF Woodruff's work in New
York. "
Beverly, Mass, Aug ISL there
is any break between the friendly cir
suit between Oyster Bay and the sum-
mer capital, the fracture is visible only
at the New York end. Rumors that
the ex-president had decided to break
with the Taft administration were re-
caived here Today with considerable in
tcrest. but no statement or comment
was forthcoming.
Among those closest TO the president,
the report OF an open break occaslOned
no great surprise. Secretary Norton
absolutely refused to be interviewed,
but read all Of the dispatches carefully
and put them aside for President Taft's
perusa'.
1t became known here today that
the first gun in the campaign to rid the
administration of Speaker Cannon Is
shortly to be fired by a politician close
to the president, who will shortly issue
statement denouncing Cannonism,
and declaring that the speaker must be
elimiDated from party councils. 1t is
known this statement will have the en-
dorsement OF the president.
Oyster Bay, n. Y, Aug. lS.-"The
return from Elba," was completed to-
day.
Theodore Roosevelt and his political
aides went into n council OF war to
prepare for n Napoleonic hundred
days" in this falls political campaign.
With the authoritative announce
ment this morning OF an absolute break
between Roosevelt and Taft admins
tration, Sycamore Hill became n
rendezvous for the Roosevelt forces.
In a driving rainstorm, a high power
automobile rushed over the Long Is
laid roads bearing Collector OF the Port
OF New York, William Loeb, ir., to
counsel with his former chief. Loeb
was plainly worried as he hurried to
Sycamore Hill, and he waived aside re-
porters who endeayored TO stop his car
With him were Congressman w. w.
Cocks, of the Oyster Bay district, and
several other politicians.
An Oyster Bay sea-gOing surrey
slowly climbing behind tine speeding
automobile, carried Lloyd c. Griscom,
who led the Roosevelt ideas to defeat
in the New York state committee meet
ing Tuesday He was solitary and
depressed, but reiterated his declara-
ton that the war is just beginning.
This fight is going to the state con
yention," he said The positions of
both Loeb and Griscom in the split be