Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-26
Mr.. TAFT REGRETFUL,
BUT FIRM IN INTENT
Had Long Discounted Roosevelt's 5
Announcement of His Candidacy.
DESIRES A CLEAN-CUT FIGHT
Confident of Result and Counsels
His Supporters to Avoid Per-
sonalities in Campaign
for Nomination.

Tor N0m1natlOn.
1--WE are with you, Mr. President
said one telegram from Boston early this
morning, and 1t was followed by dozens
of others from different parts of the
ton, where Col. Roosevelt is now So
journing in the hope of separating New
England from it's Taft leanings.
And they all showed that the issue OF
Rooseveutism is being met by the Taft
people, who welcome the battle and the
opportunity to line up.
STRAND firm. Mr. President, the country
is with you,'' came from Chicago. and
there was a similar tone IN nearly all
that were received. They cheered the
President. too.
Shock, Although Discounted.
Undoubtedly the coming out of Col
Roosevelt is something Of a shock to the
President. although it has been discount
ed by him for weeks. But the President
has found it hard to bring himself to
the point where he could believe that his
old friend would take this step. Every
advice the President has received for
weeks has been in the direction OF q
formal announcement of the Roosevelt
candidacy.
1 IN SOME circumstances men directly
from Col. Roosevelt have reported to the
1 President that they knew beyond ques-
ton that Col. Roosevelt intended to do
this. but MIR. Taft has simply wondered
how il could be possible. He could not
believe the cold facts presented to him.
hut all the time his own sense of the
doubt. Not until the Columbus speech
did the President yield these doubts.
The announcement CT Col. Roosevelt
was In the hands of President Taft as soon
The most, that the President would say
topany friend was. I'VE are right and we
will win" The same sort OF condolences
was maintained today In talks the Prest-
dent HDad with intimate friends and sup
porters. Through 1t ALL though. there
was o spirit Of regret that condition had
1Visen that would blast the long and close
fNendsh:p qne had enjoyed with the ex-
President.
Desires a Clean Campaign.
The President has again made it ar
emphatic order to his managers thai
there must be no personal attack upor
Col Roosevelt. no exposure of incon
siStencies while in the White House and
since, but just a clean fight that viii
leave the republican party in the bes1
position to meet its opponents in Novem.
ber next. That he will be renominated
the President is genuinely confident
That he will be elected in November he
also believes. but he will strive to direct
things so that his nomination will no
e followed by disaster. sn
The problem with the Taft managers
now. however. Is how to avoid personal
controversy with the ex-President Hot
headed adherents Of President Taft want
to go after the colonel from now unit
the finish, and they have much ammuni-
tion that could be used. Sooner or later
the heat of the campaign will bring facts
and issues into dispute. and may cause
the unsought and undesired controversy
To the last minute. though, this will be
avoided by the President, whose orders
are that the campaign shall be conducted
along the lines Of education and argu-
ment. impersonal to the fullest degree. To
all the advice that he get busy with Col
Roosevelt directly the President adheres
I TO the feeling that obligations to the
colonel and their former relations will
estop him from beginning such a contest
Hes Many Early Callers.
Vice President Sherman was one of tn.
earliest callers at the White House. re
manning with Mr.. Taft some minutes
/ Some good jokes were told by one Of tn.
two, judging from the hearty laughter
II
Later in the day there appeared Sena
! tors Crane, Curtis and Nixon. ex-Speake
Cannon and Representatives Martin
South Dakota: Doremus. Michigan; Nor
4 gan. Oklahoma; Mondell. Wyoming
Burke South Dakota: Gilett. Massachu
setts; Stevens, Minnesota. and Kincaid
Nebraska.
Will He Answer Roosevelt?
President Taft will not make reply t
the Roosevelt speech at Toledo, as ha.
been pred;ctec. That was in contempla
tion a: one time, but the Presiden
reached the conclusion that he did no
wish to make political speech before {
commercial body At Toledo March y h,
is to talk before the chamber OF com
merce Some of the things he will sa,
there will possibly touch some of the ut
terances of Col. Roosevelt.
/ The President has almost concluded
too that no answer is needed to the Co
lumbus speech Of Col. Roosevelt. From
all parts of the country the advice givel
the President is that the speech answer
itself, and that nothing will be gainet
by what might be called direct answer
On number of occasions in the future
however, the President will have occa
sion to elaborate his views on the recal
Of the judiciary and the latest proposi
fion of Gel. Roosevelt to permit the peO
pie to vote upon decisions of the courts
The Presiden nt's views are already wei
decisions, which he has never dis
cussed fully. not believing that any mai
in the country would ever advocate this.
No General Reply Expected.
The Presidents first speech containin
Anything like an answer to Col. Roose
welt will probably be at Chicago March
and probably before. the Union Leagu
Club. one of the places he will spea
vyhiio In that city Atm time will he al
tempt a sweeping general reply to tn
Oyster Bay statesman. He will trea
the Columbus speech in sections. IL h
handles 1t at all. At no time will he re
fer to the speech or to its author. II
will discuss each subject impersonally.
.ounsstown ana Aassilon. ONO, ar
importuning the President to stop Il
those places and speak. when he goes t
Toledo and Chicago. and this Is now un
der consideration. Youngstown may b
given the preference and the Presiden
may determine to make political speec
there. a..s.a ......,