The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-02
COUNTRY MUST
DECIDE ACTION
OF ROOSEVELT
Editorial Associate Sure He
Will Accept If Country
Calls q
WRITES FRANK STATEMENT =
TO GOVERNOR Stokes
II Roosevelt L Ever Elected Pred-
dent Again It VIII Not BE Because
He wants the once But Because
tho Country Wants Him.

06nt A8UAu ~ VIII NOt DC 4SSSosseS
Hc Wants the Once But Because
the Country Wants Him.
sssssfs ssss
Chicago, Feb. 2.-The follow.
Ing telegram was received To-Day
by Secretary Edward Sims OF the
National Roosevelt committee .
. from CONGRESSMAN William w.
Wilson Of the Third Illinois dis
. trict, in which Governor Charles
g. Deneen lives: u
"Am now and always have been
an admirer and strong supporter
. Of Col. Roosevelt. Put me IN your
. list for him for president, first,
him, we need him and we have.
got to have him."
Trenton, N. J.. Feb. 2.-"It is for
his party and his country ana a. not ,,es LOT
tion Of whether he is again to be
candidate for the presidency II they
decide to nominate him am sure ne
win accept. He will no more decline
their cali than be. would decline 10
enlist II. needed In the time OF war.
This statement is contained IN let
ter over the signature Of Lawrence f.
Ihhott. preside of the Outlook COM
pany, OF which Colonel Roosevelt Is
contributing editor. which was sent
to former Governor z. C. stokes VINO
made 1t. public today.
Most Autllorative Statement
This is the most authoritative an
nouncement Of Colonel RooseVelt's at
titude yet made. ...
Tha la<xar fo11Oua.
The Outlook. .2s7 Fourth Avenue.
New York. January %.
my Dear Governor:
"In answer to your letter, in which
you ask me az one Of Mr.. RooseNena
associates whether he would accept
the nomination tor the nEssidency,i Pre- s,tne;,on
In a few words. ! have no authority
TO, speak for him and what I say, is
my own Individual opinion.
But I have had some exceptional
opportunities during the last two
years, not only to learn his ponticai
principles. but to seee .at times the IN
believe I clearly understand his at-
titude With regard to- the discussion
Of his name 40 q presidential posi-
hility.
IF Mr.. Roosevelt 10 ever elected
president again 1t will not be because
he seeks or wants the ofhce; 1t WILL
be because the country wants him In
the office to perform a certain job. He
has had all the political and offlcial
honor that any man can possibly want.
HE accepted a nomination for the
vice presidency in 1900 when such q
nomination was thought to be equiva-
lent to political oblivion. and although
he wanted to run again for governor
Of the state of New York. in order to
complete some important work In that
Office.
"But his friends told him that It was
his duty to sacrihce himself in order
to strengthen Mr.. McKinley's nomina-
tioA and the campaign for sound
money and national financial honor.
He accepted the nomination on that
ground. although at the time both his
friends and his enemies said that It
would mean the end Of his political
ut. did not end his career. however.
for In 1904 he was nominated practi.
cally without opposition and elected
by an overwhelming majority.
I'm 1905 he not only declined. but
time when such a nomination was
equivalent to an election.
What possible incentive can there
be to q man with his record Of both
European and American achievements
and honors to enter the arduous, dis
agreeable and often disastrous con-
tests into which the candidate who
win Enter No Contest.
IT am convinced that he does not
desire the nomination and will enter
no contest to obtain 1t. But am
equally convinced that il his country
men have still further need Of his
services as their chief executive he
he would decline to enlist II needed
in time Of war.
1T 10. however. for his party and
his country, and not for him to decide
the question. II they decide to nomin-
ate him am sure he will accept: IL
they elect him am sure he will
serve.
II base my opinion upon his own
words. On the 18th of, June. 1910.
when he arrived in New York on his
return from Africa he replied to
Mayor Gaynor's address Of welcome.
- follows:
"'I am resdy and eager to do my
part. 50 far as am able. in helping
solve problems which must be solved
II we. Of this the greatest democratic
republic upon which the sun has ever
shown. are to see its destinies rise to
tho high level OF our hopes and its
opportunities.
His Prime Obligation.
This is the duty Of every citisen,
but It IL peculiarly my duty; for any
man who has ever been honored BY
being made president Of the United
States fs thereby forever after rendered
debtor Of the American people, and
10 bound throughout his life to re-.
member this as his prime obligation.
and IL private life as much as in pub
lie life 20 to carry himself that the
American people may never have
cause to feel regret that once they
placed him 1T their head
Trusting that have satisfactorily
answered your question. am
yours sincerely,
Lawrence F.. Abbott.
The Hon. Edward c. Stokes,
Trenton. N. J." -
MOVING PICTURE RESPONSIBLE.
Cedar Rapids. Iowa. Feb. 2.-ln-
duoncod by tho sentiment pictured ON