The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-14
THE STORY OF A TREAcHERY,

The public has been whiting for some
| time for the story of the betrayal of
La Toilette by the Roosevelt following.
1t will he remembered that La Toilette
| was originally the Progressive Repub-
lican candidate for tho Presidency. He
protested all the time that he did not
| wish to come TO the front ia this way,
but as no ono else would take the lead,
and as Colonel Roosevelt Is friends, ap-
| parently speaking for the Colonel, in
sisted upon La Toilette going to the
front, he finally consented to do so.
Then all at once he was betrayed by
the Pinchot and Garfield crowd in the
Ohio State convention, where they,
claiming TO speak for him, objected to
his personal endorsement, and prevent
ed it.
The whole story is now told by Sem
ator La Toilette in his weekly maga-
zine. A former chapter laid the foun
dation for this story. claiming that
Roosevelt urged La Toilette to lead the
Progressive cause, and then when he
saw La Toilette S candidacy was so
strong, Roosevelt undermined it in or
der to grab the nomination for him
self. The story then proceeds:
After the Coloners tour Of the West,
early In 1911, writes La Toilette. Roose-
welt decided that the Progressves should
put forth a candidate against Taft. Gil
son Gardner. the newspaper correspond
ent, came to La Toilette, bearing this mes
sage from Roosevelt.
THAT ] Ola Follctte) should be that
candidate, and that should get into the
fight at once"
La Toilette said the Colonel was the
natural leader of the progresslves. for he
had done the pioneer work. Roosevelt
Guild not-so the message ran-opeuly ad-
vocate La Follette's candidacy against
Taft but he would commend La Follette's
work in the Outlook and help as he could.
from time to time.
On April 30 u conference OF Progress
| sives was held in Washington. All agreed
that they should unite on candidate, to
concentrate the movement.
There Is but one man who should be
considered said Senator Cummins. "and
that Is Senator La Toilette. Cummins.
the Senator adds, pledged him his own.
support.
La Toilette, however, hesItated Il es-
umated my own worth 10 the progressive
cause too highly" he says. Ito consent
10 being used candidate for time
and then, TO serve some Interior pur
pose conveniently broken and cast upon
the scrap heap. my ability TO serve the
possibly the movement itself diverted and
subordinated to mere personal ambition"
He feared that the movement might be
shifted for political eXpediency to some
other candidate" He believed that. as the
campaign advanced and past weakness
was revealed, "either Cummins or Roose-
welt or perhaps both, might then be
tempted TO thrust In, thus dividing pro-
gressire strength and defeating real prog
ress.''
About October. 1911. a friend OF Roose
welt. who. up TO this time has been for
La Toilette. visited Oyster Bay. Return
ing he went to the Senator and reported.
Roosevelt is not only surprised at the
development of your candidacy. but he is
disappointed as Well, He added, says
ident again but you know IL has hereto
fore been his Judgment that Taft could
not be beaten" Roosevelt now seemed TO
consider La Toilette in the way.
Then came conference OF Plnchot and
others with Roosevelt, as "A result OF which
La Toilette was informed that Roosevelt
would not make a public announcement
ahead. and II he could not win the nom
nation In the convention. then Roosevelt
might possibly step in as a candidate but
meantime ''the wires should not be
crossed
The wires. however seem 10 have got
badly crossed According 10 La Toilette.
they crossed even IN his headquarters at
| wa ashington where Medill McCormick-so
| he charses-after volunteering his services
| sidetracked an important article telling
| OF La Follettes record. intended for cam
paign distribution, and tried to send out
| Instead an article written by himself
| booming Roosevelt The Senator gives
many Instances OF alleged betrayal
We believe that La Toilette is telling
the exact truth in this, and that his
betrayal by the Roosevelt crowd was
one of the most infamous political jobs
ever "pulled off" in American poll