The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-23
Lodge for Roosevelt.


chicago. Feb. 23.-A dispatch to
says:
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas
sachusetts has notified the adminis-
Iration that as the intimate friend of
theodore Roosevelt he feels impelled
TO support the latter as candidate
Tor the presidential nomination
against President Taft. Representa-.
tive Nicholas Longworth Of Ohio, SON.
in-law OF the former president, has
been released by President Taft from
further allegiance. thus relieving him
from a most embarrassing position.
Lodge, who was a college mate Of
Colonel Roosevelt and for years rec
: 'gnized as his closest friend. polite
.Nv as we'll as personally. was the
'thpiece of the administration" in
r. II. ate during the time the former
ph n occupied the white house.
Dun. ID Taft regime he has been
on anti. an administration man,
and 1t haS been understood generally
that he would be a supporter of Presi-
dent Taft for denomination.
AS q friend Of Colonel Roosevelt.
Senator Lodge has been one of those
who have urged the former president
not to be a candidate or permit the
use of his name In the anti-Taft move
ment. Yesterday the senator decided
IT was time. In fairness to the presi-
dent and to his intimate associates in
politics, to let 1t be known where he
WAS to stand. in the light Of the ad-
vance Information he had received
from Oyster Bay. He told those
whom he regarded as most vitality
concerned that Colonel Roosevelt was
to declare himself. and that under the
circumstances Lodge must be loyal to
his comrade of many years.
The Roosevelt announcement in the
form Of reply to the letter written
to him by eight governors Is expected
Massachusetts, in the coming con-
test will present the spectacle Of spir-
tied rivalry between factions led re-
spectively by Its two senator's. Sena-
tor Crane will look after the Taft
campaign In the state. Assurances al
ready have been given the adminis-
tration that Massachusetts will send a
Taft delegation to Chicago.
In all probability Senator Lodge will
become secretary of state If Colonel
Roosevelt IL nominated at Chicago
and elected to the presidency.
Representative Longworth's position
has been most embarrassing. There
has been no stronger supporter of Mr..
Iart. 1t Is understood that nearly all
members Of the former presidents
family have been opposed to his re-
opening public life as a presidential
figure. Mr.. Longworth naturally
could. not be expected to assume an
active part In the Taft campaign,
however. II Colonel Roosevelt will be
in any sense rival Of the latter.
One Of the anomalies In connection
with the Roosevelt movement now
presented is the support Of his candi-
dacy by such senators as Borah and
Lodge in the face of the colonel's ad-
vocacy of the initiative and referen-
dunn and his views .on the recall of
Judges and allied questions. Senator
Borah. one Of the progressive group,
farmerly proclaimed LaFollette 40 Inn
possible because of his. declarations
on the. recall. ne will support Roose-
velt. however, Those who oppose the
Roosevelt Views on the subjects men,
toned declare that there are other
weighty reasons for supporting him
as against Taft, and 1t is asserted sig
ntficantly that, anyhow. the Roosevelt
ideas are not yet part of the repub-
lican PLATFORM "and never will be-"
This presages lively fight over plat
form affairs at Chicago before BAL
lot on the nomination proposition is
taken. Tho platform conflict may he
said to have started with the gun fired
at Columbus during the day.