The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-26

New York. February 25.-'I will accept the nomination for President if it is ten dered me and I will adhere to this de- csion until the convention has expressed its preference,' Is Col. Theodore Roose- velt's reply to the letter. of seven re- publican governors asking him to stand for nomination.
 The eagerly awaited reply was given out tonight at Colonel Roosevelts offices here during his absence on a trip to Boston. It was unexpectedly brief but definite It follows:
 The Letter
 New York February 24, 1912 '.Gentlemen I deeply appreciate your letter and I realize to the full the heavy responsibility it puts upon me, expressing as it does the carefully considered con victions of the men elected by popular vote to stand as the heads of govern ment in their several states.
 q absolutely agree with you that this matter is not one to be decided with any reference to the personal preferences of interests of any man. but purely from the standpoint of the interests of the people as a whole. q will accept the nomination for Pres- ident if 1t is rendered me. and I will adhere to this decision until the conven- tion has expressed it's preference.
 Peoples Interest
 "One of the chief principles for which have stood and for which now stand. and which have. always endeavored and always shall endeavor to reduce to action is the genuine rule of the people, and, therefore, l hope that so far as possible the people may be given the chance, through direct primaries. to ex- press their preference as to who shall be the nominee of the republican presi- dential convention. Yer, truly, yours. "THEODORE RoOSEvELT.'" s'The Hon.. William E. Glasscock. Gov ernor of the State of West Virginia Charleston, w. Va.
 'Tt Non. Chester H. Aldrich, Governor of tnA NState. of Nebraska Lincoln, Neb ''U lion. Robert P. Bass, Governor of .he State cf New Hampshire. Con cord, N. H.
 '.The Hon. Joseph NJ Carey. Governor of the State of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyo.
 ''The Hon. Chase S. osborne. Governor of the State of Michigan. Lansing. Mich. ''Jne Hon. w.. k. StllDDS, SONeTHor VI the state of Kansas, Topeka, Kas. ."The Hon. Herbert s. Handley, gov ernor of the state of Missouri, Jefferson City, Mo.
 The above named governors assembled at Chicago two weeks ago and drafted letter to Colonel Roosevelt, asserting that there was popular demand for him to be President again and urging him to declare himself as to whether he would accept the republican nomination if it came unsolicited and unsought.'
 Tor two weeks Colonel Roosevelt con- sidered the letter. indicating plainly that he had no intention of making hasty re- ply.
 The Governors Letter
 The governors letter follows:
 Chicago, February 10, 1912. q I've, the undersigned republican gov ernors, assembled for the purpose of con sidering what will best insure the con tinuation of the republican party as a useful agency of good government, de- clase 1t our belief. after a careful in- vestgation of the facts, that a large ma jorlty of the republican voters of the country favor your nomination., and a large majority of the people favor your election as the next President of the United States.
 i've believe that your candidacy will insure success in the next campaign We believe that you represent, as no other man. those principles and policies upon which we must appeal for maior- ity of the votes of the American people and which in our opinion are necessary for the happiness and prosperity of the country.
 We believe that in view of this public demand you should soon de- clare whether, if the nominati tion come to you unsolicited and unsought. you s:ill accept 1t. e--
 interest Not Personal
 "In submitting this request we are not considering your personal inter- ests We don't regard 1t as proper to consider either the interests of the preference of any man as regards the nomination for the presidency. We are expressing our sincere belief and best judgment as to what Is demanded of you in the interests of the people q whole. And We feel that you would be unresponsive to plain public duty If you should decline to accept the nom- ination coming as the voluntary ex- pression of the wishes of a majority of the republican voters of the United States through the action of their del- egates in the next national conven- ton. Yours truly.
 "wM. E. GLASsCOcK,
 CHESTER H. ALDRICH,
 "ROBERT P. BASS
 JOSEPH M CAREY
 "CHASE F.. s. OSBORNE,
 w. R. STUBBS,
 "HERBERT S. HADLEY.
 "The Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, New York City,"
 Termination of Long Struggle
 Efforts of Colonel Roosevelt's friends to induce him to make an early declar- ation of his attitude upon the presi- dential question had been unavailing. His laconic remark to a friend in Cleveland last Wednesday night, My hat Is in the ring: you will have my answer Monday was tho first real in dication that he had in mind an affirm alive answer to the governors iettsr. Upon promise that the reply would be given out tonight, a small army of news paper men gathered at the coloneis offices early in the evening Secretary Frank Harper met the reporters punctually and gave out the correspondence without com ment. He said he was In no position 10 comment. and in view of the authors ab- senee in Bostion, where he will spend
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