The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-08
tspecial to The Times p,spatcb. /,

New York. June T.-Fricnds OF Col
onel Theodore Roosevelt did not seem
much impressed to-day hy the dis
patch from Washington to the effect
that President Taft had been assured
that Roosevelt would fight TO help him
get the renomina tton in 1912 In quar-
ters usually we'll informed on ma tiers
that pertain to the colonel, II was as
sumed that there had been undue ex-
element over the fact that Roosevelt
and Taft had met and greeted each
oihr pleasantly.
Henry L. Stiinson, Secretary OF
War. undoubtedly felt that he was
doing both his present chief and his
past leader service when he sought
to give the impression that Colonel
Roosevelt had thrown himself into the
fight for Taft" said a man who has
been close to the colonel ever since
he returned from Africa a year ago.
1T is to be remembered however, thaS
Stimson represents Root and Henry
W. Taft and is more closely a4ed
10 the Taft : administration than he
could ever have been to a Roosevelt
administration, and neither he nor
Root really understands Roosevelt's
present frame OF mind. They are too
prone to accept al more than face
value the slightest indication OF
friendltness from the colonel
The Colonel Understands.
They do not appreciate the fact
that Colonel Roosevelt has nderstood
absolutely every move made in the
East to undermine his influence by
the same men who are now seeking
his Endorsement OF the Taft admins
tration, nor do they quite appreciate
the fact that he Will hesitate a long
time before he makes move that will
ALLEVIATE the West and Middle West.
where he is as strong a 8 he was be-
fore he went into the last campaign.
1T seems hardly possible that the
friends of the administration. who are
80 anxious to announce publicly that
they have won over Roosevelt. should
believe he has forgotten some of the
incidents OF the last New York state
campaign and the preliminary fight
FOR the control OF the Saratoga con-
vention.
III ever man threw himself into a
campaign and fought for losing
cause, Roosevelt did, and yet he was
aware all the time that riends of the
administration. vice genuinely wish
Ing for the election of Stimson, were
willing to see the candidate for Gov
ernor go down to defeat because they
believed that such result would be
death blow to tho Roosevelt infu-
ence and the Roosevelt popularity.
II was one of those who saw a great
deal OF the colonel in the State cam
paign OF last fail. They worked
Roosevelt day and night to get votes
and abused him In private started
to speak to him once about 1T, but
he held UP his hand and would not
listen The night before the election
he went to Oyster Bay. knowing we'll
hai
very men who had used him until he
was worn out We're ready to issue a
public statement that Stimson had won
despite Roosevelt, and that Stimson's
election meant the elimination Of the
colonel.
May Be Friends Again.
ut Is not without the bounds OF
reason that Roosevelt and Taft may
be the personal friends again that
they were when Roosevelt was in the
White House. On the other hand. Won
must remember that the colonel is
not the man to forget the way his
friends were treated by Taft as soon
/ as Roosevelt was out of the country,
nor the stories that were spread by
Tafts friends in the desire to disrupt
the former friends. Roosevelt has
stuck to Lodge and to Root, despite
The divergence of opinion on political
questions, and he would have stood by
Taft. despite their diametrcaIly op-
posite views on many political mat
tiers, IL 1t had not been that he
thought he had received discourteous
treatment from the President The
colonel, of course. is not allowing
anybody to speak for him without eX-
plicit directions. but 1t Is safe to as
sumo that the interest in Washington
over the final roping and throwing OF
Theodore is trifle premature
"As for his not wishing his name
to be even mentioned for the presi-
dency in 1912, that is an old story,
made unduly prominent at this time
for obvious reasons More than four
months ago I saw a letter. from the
colonel saying positively that he
would not even consider the presenta-
ton of his name before the conven-
tlon There are friends OF his. how
ever, who think otherwise. and they.
up to the present time. have not been
roped and thrown" i3fsi