The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-03-08
He DOES NOT SAY whether OR
NOT HE WOULD ACCEPT
THE NOMINATION.
E A IN COLUMBUS, o,
addressing h Members Of Ohio Con-
stitut'onaI Convention, the Colonel
SETS Forth His Progressive
IDEAS and Answers Harmon.

Columbus, O., Feb. 21.-Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt came to Columbus TO-.
DAY and delivered a characteristic
and stirring address before the men,
oers OF the constitutional convention
IN the state house. He set forth il
detail his revised progressive poll
cles, but. to the disappointment of
many of his hearers, he adhered to
ms announced plan and did not say
whether or not he would accept the
Republican nomination for president
1t If were offered him.
once or twice, however, he paused
lmpressively and then said things
that caused his supporters to emit
joyful whoops, for these sentences
seemed to be clear intimations that
If the Republican convention in Chi
caso insisted on placing his name at
the head of the ticket his sense of
public duty would not permit him to
reject the honor.
indeed, in a broad sense, the col
onels speech was entirely nOn-parti-
san TOR the principles Of government
he advocated have earnest supporters
IN all parties. The constitutional con.
v%ention is a non-partisan body and
the applause that greeted most OF Mr..
~Roosevelt's emphatic u~tterances was
general.
Makes Reply to Harmon.
Colonel Roosevelt had said pre-.
viously that he would not reply to the
ie1ter or the governors who urged
his candidacy until after this Column
bus visit. and SO in his public utter
ances here he virtually ignored that
incident. But he did answer the at
tack on the initiative and referendum
recently made by Governor Harmon.
Ills position regarding that policy
long has been we'll known and that
position he defended vigorously. II.
and r. has d large number of adyO-
Gates in he constitutional convention
and they, as well as the political adj
velsaries Of the governor, gave this
part Of the cOIonel's address their
noisy approval.
Great Throng at Station.
When Colonel R~oosevelt's train
pulled into the Union station shortly
before II O'Clock this morning the
station II the streets outside were
so thronged that the special details
of police had their hands more than
full.
AS the eX-president alighted from
the car a mighty shout of greeting
made The girders of the station ring
itp WAS mat k, tho n; ,,,@. -
mlttee or the convention, comprised
OF Walter F. Brown. of Toledo, John
ID. Fackler of Cleveland and Ebert
l.. l-ampson of Ashtabula county. Re.
publicans, and Richard A.. Beattie Of
wood nj f. &. Leete of Lawrence.
Democrats. With them was Mr..
Roosevelts intimate personal friend,
Or. Washington GLADDEN..
Address Before Convention.
The party drove at once up High
street between solid walls of human.
lty and the colonel was kept busy
responding to the cheers, showing his
evident pleasure in his famous smile.
he was taken direct to the state
house, where he was formally greeted
by Herbert S. Bigelow, president of
the constitutional convention, who
escorted him to the platform and
introduced him to the big assemblage.
Mr.. Roosevelt began his address
directly The applause subsidized and
spoke for about three-Quarters of an
hour, holdln& very closely to the text
CT his prepared speech. AS is USUALLY
the case with the colonel. the address
sounded spontaneous and at times a
hi' "taiiilhs, Bat WAS carefully con.