The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-07
ROOSEVELT WILL
Be WITH TAFT
IN 1912
Colonel Will Support President
for Reformation.
NOT A CANDIDATE HIMSELF
Gathering at Gibbons jubilee Seems
to Have Settled important Point
In Politics

Washington, June President
Taft in his candidacy for the presi-
Dental nomination in 1912 will re-
ceive the unqualified Endorsement of
former President Theodore Roosevelt
which will be uttered just as cordl-
ally as it was prior to the campaign
of 1908. This is the best political
news Mr. Taft has received in many
months, and 1t comes to him in
manner that leaves no doubt as to its
authenticity. The information that
Col. Roosevelt under no circumstan-
ces will allow his own name to be pre-
scented to the republican national con
yention was conveyed to the White
House at Washington several days
ago, but il did not become known
until last night That Col Roose-
welt feels that the Taft administra-
ton should be continued was brought
out partly as the result of a cordial
greeting between the two men at the
Cardinal Gibbons jubilee in Balti.
more yesterday. Whether the Roose-
welt approval of Mr. Taft's candidacy
will go far enough to take the former
president into the campaign as an
active stump speaker is problemati-
cal, but that the force OF his person
ality will be with the president is as
sured
This fact is not expected to prove
pleasing to republicans who have
made no secret of their desire to
bring Col. Roosevelt forward as
formidable rival for the 1912 nominal
ton. Many of these republicans, no
doubt, will refuse to abandon hope
until Col. Roosevelt himself, in quot
ed statement, announces his position
and thus breaks the silence concern
ing the administration which he has
maintained since landing in New
York on his return from his African
hunt. The information that Col.
Roosevelt would be found aligned
with the president rather than against
him was brought directly to Mr.. Taft
from Mr.. Roosevelt by mutual
friend high In official life, who was
connected with both the Roosevelt
and Taft administrations in capac-
ity that enabled him to gain and re-
tain the confidence, in fact the warm
personal friendship, of both men.
The meeting at Baltimore between
the president and Mr. Roosevelt was
only incidental to the celebration of
Cardinal Gibbons jubilee, but 1t was
an incident that awakened the polit-
zeal interest of the senators and con
gressmen and others in official life
who saw the two men together. They
met first in the reception room in the
5th regiment armory, where the JUDI.
lee celebration, was held They talk
ed together there for 10 minutes.
They shook hands with old friends;
they chatted, laughed and behaved
just as they used to do when Mr..
Roosevelt was in the White House
and Mr.. Taft was secretary of war.
They carried the spirit of friendship
up to the platform, and, sitting side
by side, they conversed in undertones
through much of the afternoon.
Mr.. Roosevelt was glad also to see
Uncle Joe Cannon. He shook hands
heartily with Vice President Sher-
man, he expressed the greatest plea
sure at seeing Senator Penrose and
of course Senators Root and Lodge,
both old friends, came in for the old
time atfectionate greetings Alto
gether, the scene resembled repub-
lican love feast Mr.. Roosevelt
reached Baltimore before the presi-
dent and was waiting for him at the
armory. Hello, Mr. President" said
he in the high pitched voice that
Washington used to know so well.
I'm glad to see you. want to in
quire about Mrs. Taft" Hello, The
odore," replied the president How
are your"
Where's ARCHER" inquired the col
onel a minute later looking for Maj.
A. w. Butt, who was his personal aid
in his White House days and who is
now aid to Mr.. Taft.