Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-27
Former President in Answer
to Letter Sent by Cover
nors Says He Will Accept
if Nominated.
FOR PRESIDENTIAL
STATE PRIMARIES
Colonel Declares That Inter
ests of People Rise Higher
Than Personal Interest Of
Any Man.


the fight. That's ALL" said Theodore
Roosevelt today. 1t was his only com
ment on his statement issued yester-
day that he would accept the presi-
Dental nomination if offered to him.
With Mr. Roosevelt squarely on rec
ord' the active work of getting togeth-
er Roosevelt organization was begun
here today. kilograms from all parts
OF the country and visitors urged Mr..
Roosevelt to roll up his sleeves and
throw himself into the fray, but he let
1t be known that for the present he in
tends to do little, perferring to await
indications Of the effect OF his an
nouncement. He said that his visitors
today We're forming Roosevelt or
ganization in Massachusetts, but that
he would take no part in it. While
he will keep in touch with the political
situation In all parts of the country,
Mr.. Roosevelt expressed the determin.
alton to identify himself with no
Roosevelt 0cganiza alton. y ss s,,ss.
Requests for speeches have been re.
celved from several states but Mr..
Roosevelt said he had not made up his
mind what to do. He, said, however,
that whether or not he embarked on
a speaking campaign he would reiter-
ate time after time his belief in the
political principles which he set forth
IN his speech at Columbus, Ohio. 1t
Is on this platform that the Roosevelt
campaign Is to be fought.
II will accept the nomination for
president II It is rendered to me and
! will adhere to this declaration until
the convention has expressed it's prefer
ence." ,.,- =.
Theodore Roosevelt in these words
last night broke his silence OF months
and formally declared himself in the
race for the republican nomination for
the presidency.
The coloneps statement was issued
from the Outlook Offices in the form OF
reply to a petition from eight gov
ernors. dated February 10, in which
they implore him to express his willing.
ness to accept the nomination.
Roosevelts Announcement.
Following is his reply:
New York, Feb. "a, 1872
Gentlemen: | deeply appreciate your
letter, and l realize to the full the
heavy responsibility it puts upon me,
expressing, as it does, the carefully
considered convictions of the men
elected by popular vote to stand as the
heads Of government in their several
states.
absolutely agree with you that this
matter Is not one to be decided with
any reference to the personal prefer
ence or interests Of any man, but pure
ly from the standpoint of the interests
OF the people as a whole. will ac-
cept the nomination for president IL
1t is rendered to me- and will adhere
to this decision until the convention
has expressed its preference. One Of
the chief principles for which / have
stood and for which I now stand and
which | have always endeavored and
always shall endeavor to reduce to
action, is the genuine rule Of the peo-
pie; and therefore l hope that so far
as possible the people may be given
the chance, through direct primaries,
10 express their preference as to who
shall be the nominee of the republican
presidential convention.
Very truly yours,
Theodore Roosevelt
The letter is addressed to Governor
William E. Glasscock Of West Virginia
Governor Chester H. Aldrich of Ne
braska. Governor Robert P. Bass OF
New Hampshire, Governor Joseph M.
Carey Of Wyoming, Governor Chase 8.
Osborne, of Michigan, Governor w. r.
Stubbs Of Kansas, Governor Herbert
S. Hadley of Missouri and Governor r.
S. Vessy of South Dakota.
The Governors Letter.
The letter from the governors to the
colonel was as follows:
~ Chicago, February 10, 1912.
We, the undersigned republican
governors, assembled for the purpose
of considering what will best insure the
continuation of the republican party
as useful agency of good governors,
declare 1t our belief, after a careful
investigation of the facts. that large
majority Of the republican voters OF
IS- - To- lx~~n