Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1912-03-07
COLONEL ANSWERS
QUESTIONS PUT BY
SECR[TARY OF WAR
Explains That People Are the
"Certain Persons" Who
Forced Him Into the
Campaign.
ANSWERED CALL OF PEOPLE
At Present Sitting Around Jury
Room, Waiting to Be
Called, Drawing So
Per Day.

M.neola, l.. L., March 7.-secretars
Stimson's speech in Chicago last night,
supporting President Taft for the re-
publican nomination. brought from
Colonel Roosevelt today tart reply,
In regard to Mr.. Stlmson': state
ment that against my original inten-
tion, l am being forced by certain per-
sons into the arena this year. need
merely saw" declared Colonel Roose-
Welt. that the statement is correct
only in the sense that 1t would be cor
rect to make the same statement as 10
my advocacy of Mr.. Stimson for gov
ernor in 1910. In that contest. as III
this. was exceeding reluctant to be
drawn into the contest In that con-
test, as i'll this, acted only from
sense Of duty to the people as whole
and in that contest was assailed VIII
precisely the same arguments py the
great majority of those who are now
nssailing me.
Same As in 1910.
'If ! had considered only my owH
personal interests and personal preler
ence. I should, of course. have kep'
out Of the 1910 campaign. have let the
machine remain in control at Saratoga
and seen the state democratic by 300,
900 majority, as under these conditions
it certainly would have gone. ! Went
in because l conscientiously felt that
It was my duty to take my part IN
the tight for honest government. fol-
genuine self government by the peo-
pie, without regard to the conse
quences to myself; and l am IN this
fight on precisely the same basis and
for practically the same reasons.
Let me add, in view of the ques-
Az. r~iry 1c I'm moi
Mr.. Stimson nor any other man whom
/ have supported for public office
owes me any gratitude FOR doing so
I support Il man. not TO set his graf
itude. but because believe ne viii
render good service to the people: ant
ask nothing from any man IN return
except that he render such service e
the people, and l judge him accord
ingiy.
Question Easily Answersd.
"As to the question concerning who
are forcing me into the arena, the
answer Is easy.
(which side is making the demand
for open primaries, and which side I:
sizing this demand wherever possible
compulsion and trusting to the use o.
patronage. to such methods as those
tried III the recent congressional con.
vention at Excelsior Springs, Mo-. anC
to those very machine leaders who have
turned a complete somersault as re.
CARDS the president during the las
four years?"
"These leaders are managing th'
campaign against me: and II they wer
deliberately trying to wreck the repub
lican party they would follow preclsel.
the tactics they have been followings-
tactics which made II seem that the.
would rather see the republican part.
hnV tn
1t was under Lincoln, and see is be
come again the genuine party OF tn,
people, the party that stands for rea
popular rule, and for the highest ideal
OF social and Industrial justice to b,
achieved through popular rule.
we stand for direct presidentia
preferential primaries everywhere IL
Massachusetts, in Illinois, In New Yorl
for in New York, the present primar,
law, passed by the machines OF tn,
two parties, is expressly designed t,
prevent either party from escaping tn,
control OF the professional politician
and from falling under the control o
the people. If our opponents wish th'
people to have their say, let them sup
port real primary bills.
Awaits Primary Returns.
IF, in open primaries withou
coercion or fraud. without pressur,
brought by the use of patronage or b.
the promise or by the withholding o
patronage, the plain people OF the re
publican party declare that they dit
not wish me to be nominated. thel
most certainly do not wish the nomi
nation; II they declare that they d.
wish me, not III my interests, but Ii
the interest Of the people as a whole
then, as l have already said, will ac
ccpt and will strive TO serve the peopl
with all OF whatever powers possess.