The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-19

Roosevelt spent today In what was prob
ably the most important political con"
ference he has had since he left the
White House. He gathered about him
group of his close friends and talked
over with them the situation which is
best expressed an the reports that rela-
tions between President Taft and him
self are strained to the breaking point.
William Loeb, Jr.. collector Of the
port of New York; Lloyd c. Griscom,
chairman of the New York Republican
county commissions; Representative VIII
liam M. Calder of Brooklyn, Frederick
j. Kracke of Brooklyn and Representa-
tive w W. Cocks of Colonel Roosevelt
home district, took part IN the confer
gnce.
From what was said by some of the
visitors it was learned that the colonel
and his friends have agreed on e plan
of action which will hold until the Sit
uation shapes itself more clearly.
To Play Waiting Game.
Briefly stated, it is this: Colonel
Roosevelt is to stand aside III the New
York state campaign and let the oid
guard fight It's own fight and thus
shoulder all the responsibility Tor the
conduct and result of the campaign
He is neither to indorse nor crltlclse
the Taft administration. lie is TO keep
out all around If he can,
Through some of today's visitors 1t
was learned why the colonel has decided
TO keep his hands of, He feels that
the Republican state committee IN re-
fusing to indorse him for temporary
chairman of the Saratoga convention
L. ~ 10 nrNf
nigh against his will, with the know
ledge that he would be held responsible
for election results-acted In manner
that would make further activities On
his part look as If he was leading
factional fight against the administra"
ton.
May Yet Change His Mind.
1t was said that Colonel Roosevelt
does not deem it either wise or proper
to permit himself to become involved
In such a factional fight 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,
One important provision was empha-
sized at today's conference. Those with
whom he talked were made TO under
stand clearly that Colonel Roosevelt
reserves to himself the right to enter
the thick of the fight at any tlme,. II
he believes that the policies of which
he is the exponent are In jeopardy. But
he let it be known that he would DO 80
with much 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 gath
cred that Colonel Roosevelt believes the
present attitude of men who are In
iIuentinl in the national administration
is hostile to him and that an open rnp-
ture may result. In such case the
colonel feels that he may be compelled
at some juncture to exert his influence
against the administration.
Will Try to Keep Peace.
Those who arc closest to the colonel
believe he will do everything 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 ma
tion IS policy for the noxt four years
is to be brought before the country
and when a successor TO w. IA, Tart is
to be elected.
Should such an Issue between Colonel
Roosevelt and the administration pre-
sent itself Mt that time, il is the belief
of the colonel IS intimate associates that
he will be in the fight to the end-that
he will stake his own future on the out |
come and again become 4 candidate for
the presidency, 1t is believed. how"
ever, that Colonel Roosevelt regards
such q decision rs remote contingency |
which is not to receive serious atten- |
tion at the present time.
He has said repeatedly that he can |
form no plans for the future. for the |
situation may be changed at any time.
He has told his friends that he is can
didate for no Office and he can con.
ceive of no circumstances which would |
lead him to accept the governorship or
seat in the United States senate.
Plausible Explanation.
His associates believe the only rea-
son which might lead him to consider
becoming q candidate for the presiden-
tial nomination would be the convic-
tion that he must seek another term In
order to successfully carry on the work
he began while president.
Tho conference broke up late today,
without any definite agreement as TO
when another will he held. Colonel
Roosevelt is TO start for the west on