The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-03-05
HE WOULD NOT
TIE HIS HANDS
With a Statement That
Would Make it Difficult
or Impossible to Serve
the Publis, Says 7. r.
united press Leased wlro.)

New York, March 5.--In support
Of his contention that he has never
deceived his friends by making a posi-
tive promise that he would not accept
presidential nomination this year
Colonel Roosevelt today gave out a
text of a letter written on January 49,
The letter was addressed to f'rank A
Munsey, and in II Roosevelt saida
what have said to you and am
about to say to. YOU l have for in
stance said not only to other friends
who think / ought to be nominated,
but to friends-(and even for) who
think 1 ought not to be nominated,
provided / could trust their sincerity,
intelligence and truthfulness; to Sec
retary Stimson, Secretary Meyer and
CONGRESSMAN Longworth, who arc sup
porting Taft; to Mr.. Pinchot, Com
gressmen Lenroot and Kent, who are
supporting La Follette; l said TO edd-
tors like Mr.. Nelson. Mr.. VanValken-
burg and Mr.. Wright, have said to
the entire Aldine club Democrats, Re
publicans and every one.
81 shall not be a candidate. ] shall
not seek the nomination, nor would
l accept 1t II NJ came to me as the
result of intrigue. But l will not tie
my hands with n statement which
would make it difficult or impossible
for me to serve the public by under
taking a great task If the people as
a whole seemed definitely to come to
the conclusion that l had to do that
task"
Roosevelt said that this letter alb
somtely cleared UP all doubt OF what
his position had been right along.
One of the firsla callers on Colonel
Roosevelt when he arrived at the
Outlook offices today was W. Bourke
Cochran, once a Tammany hall con-
gresham. He was oloseted with the
colonel for some time but he did not
state whether he Is now an advocate
Of Ronscvelts nomination.
Roosevelt's second visitor was VIII
liam Allen White of Kansas, who
said he had told the colonel that If he
was not nominated at Chicago Presi-
dent Taft would not be- White spent
Sunday night at Sagamorc Hill as the
Colonels guest and went back no see
ho had forgotten.
II told the colonel" SAID White,
that We, out IN Kansas, had been for
Senator La Toilette until his boom
COEI .Ised. ana how we were for him.
! gayo him threo reasons why he was
suro 10 be nominated. First, l told
mi mthat my personal observation in
dicatcd that ne already was sure of
two-fifths of the entire Chicago con-
vcntion. / told him that President
Taft has congress on his hands and
by his treatment OF ~ can be depend
ed on TO ALLEVIATE many of his present
supporters. l told him that the south
ern delegates were not the kind of
men that go to the Stake for principle
and that they Will vote at Chicago for
their jobs and not in accordance with
instructions.
81 also explained to him that many
United STATES senator's whose reelec-
lions are jeopardized by the progress
sive sentiment IN their statos, can be
depended on TO drop their support OF
Taft. | cited as an instance the case
Of Murray Crane. of Massachusetts.
These men, l told him, when they sec
the buzz saw ripping the buttons of
their vests can be depended on to back
away.
Il called his attention to the fact
that the experienced political leaders
Ike Barnes of New York were gath,
ering up uninsiructed delegates and
toldl this was so they could. wher
the time came, be for anyone they
thought would win"
The letter to Munsey COMPROMISED
eleven large typewritten pages. Th'
following is another extract from 1t
in other words as far as in mi
lies, 1 am trying to look at this mat
| ter purely from the standpoint of tn
public interest; of the interest OF tn
people as q whole and not in the leas
fro mmy own standpoint.
''If should consult my own pleas
ure an dinterest, / should most EN-
phatically and Immediately announc
that / would under no circumstance
run. l have had all the honor tina
any man can have from holding tn
office OF president. From every per
sonal standpoint there is nothing 70
me to gain. either in running for tn
office or in holding the office NOR
and there is very much oloose."
The colonel also answered the crit
iclsm leveled at him for accepting
$500 for addressing the Union league
club at shicago. by pointing out tha
Lincoln had received 5000 for MAXIM
a speech before a similar organlza
tlon.
| HildrQfh Goes IN If.ancP