Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-28
COLONEL WILL STAY AWAY
Roosevelt Refuses Unofficial Invita-
ton TO Peace Dinner.
OPPOSES SENTIMENTS INVOLVED
Disasreements Arise over plans for
Great Celebration In New york
In BehRIf OF ArbitrPtion
Treaties.


NEW YORK. Dec. 's7,--Ciose on the
! heels Of one great peace meeting, which
was broken up by disturbers opposed 20
the ratification Of President Taft's pro
posed treaties with England and France
engagements have arisen over what Is
being planned as one OF the greatest
peace dinners the country has ever seen
to be held here Saturday night
| II developed today, according 20 a
member OF tho committee IN charge OF
the dinner, that former President Roose-
Welt had replied to a semi-official invl-
tation to attend tho function AZ which
! President TAFT will be tho principal
speaker with letter declaring that his
sentiments were wholly at variance with
those 60 be expressed at the affair and
consuming as ''traltorous" tn their prin-
ciplss all those who accepted invitations
60 the dinner without agreeing with It's
purpose.
Asks His Views Firnt.
To arrange a peaceful program. the
executive committee OF tho National Clti-
zens' committee in charge OF the dinner
met and discussed the situation. At a
/ meeting Of the executive committee last
/ "wednesday resolution was adopted I'm
executive session authorizing an official
invitation 20 Mr.. Roosevelt. but the
secretary who was told TO send the lnvi-
| tation did not do 80 in formal way but
wrote 90 Mr.. Roosevelt first TO learn his
views. A member OF the committee who
would not have his name printed, said
that Mr.. Roosevelt replied with seven
| page letter. leaving no doubt whatever
that he would not attend in any elrcum-
stances
In another interview today Mr.. Roose-
welt implied his intention not 20 attend.
John Temple Graves was selected as
! toastmaBter. A letter from President
! Taft was read. He agreed TO be present
and TO make n thlrty-minute speech. as
well as to remain throughout the dinner,
Not Ia Politics.
Thodore Roosevelt announced this after
noon that he was taking no part In tho
New York state political situation and
that mot a single human being had
asked him to lend his influence to the
support of any candidate for the republl.
oan nomination for governor next year.
II have not been asked because / am
not in politics, and nobody expects me to
be In politics" said he.
Colonel Roosevelt today had an hours
conference with Darwin II. James. jr..
president OF the Young Mems Republican
club OF Brooklyn.
"You have had callers who talked poll
tics, haven't youT' Colonel Roosevelt was
asked.
Tho people are afraid 10 come to see
me-" he replied because they think they
viii be compromised by this talk Of poll
ties. But I'll see anybodyi I'm not afraid
of being compromised.
There's General Barry sitting over
there. He's here to call on me. but the
fact that he has come does not signify
that want 10 mike myself dictator. does
It? And here's Martin Egan, In from the
Philippines Does HIS calling mean that
want TO make myself master OF tho
Philipplnes7 No, gentlemen, l haven't
a word TO say on politicB--not a word"
~ New York paper printed a story
today that you would not attend the
peace dinner TO be held here on the thir-
tieth, because you had been counted
among the political enemies OF President
Taft" said reporter. do YOU wish TO
comment on it.T'
Think OF IT," exclaimed Mr.. Roosevelt
| "just thing Of that"
''That part OF the story was played UP
In black type" replied the reporter.
1T should have been In red" said Colo
mel Roosevelt, smiling. "And dripping
at that"