The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-06-28
NOMINATION WAS
OFFERED TO TEDDY
Although unexpected to Him, 7. r.
says He is Pleased With the
Convention Result.

Welt program. After a series Of dis
.Scussions with his lieutenants today be
fore leaving Chicago, in which there
were several sharp clashes, Colonel
Roosevelt decided to cut entirely away
from the party with which his whole
public career has been identified. His
decision was disappointment to
those who favored the organization of
what might be considered an inde-
pendent republican party, with which
various state organizations might CO
operate and still maintain, it was hop
ed, nominal regularity.
There must be no compromise, no
straddle," Colonel Roosevelt said.
AS an indication of his Determination,
he said that when he returned to oys-
ter Bay he would communicate with
a number of democrats whom he
thought might wish to join the new
party.
When he had left Chicago with the
first plans completed, and his leaders
scattering to all parts of the country,
Colonel Roosevelt expressed himself as
pleased with the outcome of conven-
ton work, although it was unexpected
to him.
The republican nomination for pres
ident, Colonel Roosevelt asserted last
night, was his for the asking on the
day that President Taft was nominat-
ed. He declined to accept it, he said,
on the terms under which the offer
was made.
On his way back to oyster Bay, the
|. former president gave a glimpse into
the secret history of the last day OF
the convention, when it was apparent
that the tide Of battle had turned re-
sistlessly against him.
1t was plan to seize control of the
convention at the last moment by a
sudden move, oyerturn the Taft major.
ity and make Roosevelt the nominee.
This is the story as he told it:
of delegates from southern states ar
ranged a private interview with Col
onel Roosevelt. They told him they
had come to offer him the nomination
They had with them a list of the
known Roosevelt delegates and stated
that they were authorized to speak fol-
a block of Taft delegates who were
willing to swing over to Roosevelt tc
avert a rupture in the party. The mum
Der of these delegates they assured
Colonel Roosevelt was large enough
to nominate him or any other candidate
he might name.
One provision was made, Colone
Roosevelt continued 1t was that he
must accept the nomination for the
convention as then composed, and mo-
insist upon removal of the seventy
eight delegates whom he contendeC
were fraudulent before he would rec
ognize any act of the convention.
Colonel Roosevelt said he informed
these emissaries that if he should b'
nominated under these conditions h'
would accept the nomination. He tolt
\ them to go to the delegates whom the!
represented and bring back to him ;
pledge signed by thirty delegates
agreeing to combine with the Roose
welt delegates and then make the at
tempt to start all over again to or
ganize the convention and to unsea
the seventy-eight contested delegates
AT attempt failed. Colonel Roosevelt
said a considerable number of sigma
lures to the pledge were obtained, bu
that it had proved impossible to hol'
sufficiently large part of the dele
gates in line for the course of actor
upon which he insisted to give it th'
chance of success.
The chief point of interest to Col
onel Roosevelt's supporters today wa
whether they would be able to carr.
with them the strength of the follow
ing which Colonel Roosevelt has here
tofore had within the republican party
Some of them said frankly that tn
movement was lnaugurated on the as
sumption that, since Colonel Roose
Welt had been the choice of the part
in a number of republican states,
would be possible to bring these state
In line for the party.
No plan has yet been decided upol
INV which it would be possible to ei
feet such transfer of workable OF
Examinations from the republican part
II the new enterprise. 1t is recognia
ID that there exists the danger OF s.
many defections that in some cases tn
machinery may be either badly dam
aged in the process if left in the hand