The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-26
PUTS IT ONTO GRISCOM.
Woodruff Writes Letter to Roosevelt
Fixing Blame for Defeat. +

New York, Aug. 26.-The confer
ence on the night before the Republic
can state committee meeting in which
Theodore Roosevelt was voted down
and Vice President Sherman chosen
temporary chairman of the Republican
convention, has assumed still another
complexion. Timothy L. Woodruff,
state chairman. in a statement given
out from Republican state headquar-
tiers, puts the responsibility for the
action up to Lloyd G. Griscom, presi-
dent of the Republican county COM
mittee, and denies that he had even
an intimation of any plan to present
the name of Colonel Roosevelt to the
committee until Mr.. Griscom made the
actual nomination.
Mr.. Woodruff has received a copy
of President Taft's recent letter to Mr..
Griscom, in which the president said
that whatever knowledge Mr. Wood
ruff may or may not have had of the
intention to present the colonePs name,
at least two persons had prior knowl-
edge thereof, and also of the Intention
to defeat it-Taft himself and Vice
President Sherman. In his statement
Woodruff says precedent was followed,
in the selection of Sherman as chair
man, and that Griscom moved to sub
stitute the name of Roosevelt for that
of Sherman practically after the COM
mittee had acted.
aPresident Taft was in no way in.
volved in this matter Mr.. Woodruff
says, ssas the members of the state
committee acted entirely within their
authority in selecting a temporary
chairman without, as far as know. a
single one of them consulting with him
about it; but in view of the apparent
affront to Mr.. Root, caused by the &C
ton of Mr.. Griscom. felt called upon
as chairman of the committee. to send
an explanatory letter to the former
president"
A copy of the letter accompanies the
statement II gives an explanation of
the circumstances preceding and dur
ing the committee meeting, and says
the action was in no sense intended as
an act of hostility toward you nor one
of reflection upon you" Then the state
ment reads in part:
"I know of no party principles upon
which We are at present divided in this
state except that involved in the pro-
posal to abolish the convention system
of making nominations and to substi-
tute therefor the direct nomination
plan, which has been characterized as
the device of the demagogue and the
millionaire
Those who are opposed TO this fad
and who believe that its introduction
in this state will lead to further en-
croachments of Populistic ideas. will if
chosen delegates to the Saratoga con-
vention properly endeavor to prevent
the convention from committing itself
this agitation for direct primary nomi-
nations is far more dangerous than
anything that the proposition itself
embodies. TIE radicalism which in this
statement is directed against the rep
resentative system of nominating by
| convention will, If given its head, next
! menace the stability of enterprise.
ST am glad to know that Mr.. Roose-
welt intends to go to the Saratoga con-
vention and present his ideas on this
| and other subjects. The Importance of
this convention viii be greatly enhanc-
| ed and the superiority of the conven-
ton system to the direct nomination
method demonstrated.
ION the part of myself and the other
| regulars there is no personal warfare
| involved in this matter nor has there
been. Our interest lies where it always
| basin the success of the party when
| it's progressive ness does not violate it's
| tradition
Mr.. Woedruff's only comment on Col.
! Roosevelt's speech At the Elliott club