New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-03
WOODRUFF DENIES FLOP
SAYS Taft and Roosevelt Know
Where He Stands-for Taft.
BOTH MEN HIS FRIENDS
Tells How He Brought Them To.
gether - Won't Sacrifice
Friendship of Either.

Timothy L. Woodruff former Lieutenan,
Governor and leader Of the Kings County
delegates 10 the Chicago convention, In
denying again that he had any intention OF
boiling from his determination to support
President Taft. said Yesterday that both
the President and Colonel Roosevelt knew
exactly where he stood.
President Taft has my personal assur-
ance that am with him and for him" de-
clared Mr. Woodruff Colonel Roosevelt
also knows my position. and he is broad
enough and fair minded enough TO approve
| had luncheon with him at the Union
League Club a little while before the New
| York primaries. At that time. In answer
10 his direct question. / told him that
would give my support 10 President Taft
He took no exception, and. In fact. ex-
pressed the opinion that he could not see
how I could do otherwise
We spoke Of the earlier associations
! between the President. Colonel Roosevelt
and myself Colonel Roosevelt knows tina,
since our days in Yale President Taft and
I have been warm personal friends, but
nv friendship for the President does not
and shall not. mean that shall break my
friendship with Colonel Roosevelt"
| Going on to tell OF the early DAYS. Gov
ernor Woodruff recalled that IT was he who
FIRST brought President Taft and the
colonel together II was at football
game. when they were students in college
| Mr. Roosevelt had come down from Cam
bridge for the event. and Mr.. Woodruff
having known him since they were boys
| introduced him to the future President
| who was one OF Mr. Woodruff fraternity
mates
| In 1856. he continued. he helped 10 man
age Roosevelts campaign for the mayor
! atty. Two years later he stumped the
| state with the colonel as a candidate for
Lieutenant Governor. In 1909 Colone
| Roosevelt voted for him, Mr.. Woodruff
said. for the ice-Presdency in the caucus
Of tho New York delegation, but was com
PEELED by popular clamor 10 accept tht
/ honor himself In 1905 Mr. Woodruff de-
clined TO be "A delegate-at-large, in order
. that he might not he forced Ia vote FOL
the nomination of Governor Hughes against
Taft. supported by Roosevelt.
II see no reason" asserted Mr. Wood
run why this contest for the Republican
! Presidential nomination should result in
broken friendships or broken political anil
ations. Whoever IS nominated in Chicago
expect To see the Republican party present
its usual unbroken front to the enemy.
We hear too much about steam roller
methods within the national committee
and Of boiling factions That is all wrong
The members Of the national committee
are good. honest American citizens be
| fore they are partisans. There will be a
good. healthy. blood warming fight in thu
convention, and after the standard bearer
has been chosen the factions will get TO-
gether as they have always done and there
will be the usual Republican love feast"
The ex-Iieutenant Governor added tina
| he realized he was being criticised because
| ~, had refused to turn loose Walls or Wrati
| ON the head OF Colonel Roosevelt; that ~
was credited with a desire 10 secure sea-
| on the band wagon. lie had not chanse1.
! his positlon, he averred. The voters II
| some OF the states had declared In favor o
| Colonel Roosevelt. but that did not meal
| they wished to deny the people OF Ne'
York the privilege OF expressing their OWL
preference.
"On the OTHER hand" said Mr., Woodruff
| 'If the demand for Colonel Roosevelt is :
/ strong that II cannot he denied. | am con
| hdent that the entire party VIII rally TO M
| support He is not menace TO the part
| nor 10 the country. He Is one OF the bigges
mon this world has ever known.
| "In my opinion he Is n safer man and
man OF ripper iudgmo mt than he was eigh
| years ago. In my debate with the LAT
| Senator McCarren I'm 1907 | argued that
| was not Colonel Roosevelts turning on 9
| the light that caused the panic but III
| conditions revealed by that night. Presiden
Roosevelt did his duty by the country an
| bv the world.
| While regret tire bitterness OF III
! contest, I derive satisfaction from the fac
| De- nriytlaRR
| choosing between two men as great a
| President Taft and Colonel Roosevelt"