Milford chronicle., 1912-02-02
Abbott Declares He Will Accept
Nomination if Offered.
GIVES HIS VIEWS IN LETTER
Editor of THE Outlook" Is Sure the
Colonel Would Accept Nomination as
He Wculd Enlist For Wa.

That Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
would no more decline tC take the
nomination for president than he
would decline to enlist, ii needed, in
time of war, is the opinion of Lawrence
f. Abbott, one of the editors Of The
Outlook.
This belief is expressed in letter
received in Trenton, n. j., by former
Governor Edward c. Stokes.
The letter received by Mr.. Stokes
follows visit he made to The Outlook
office last week, when he had an inter
view with Colonel Roosevelt. Mr.
Stokes suggested that the former pres
ident write a letter, or have one writ
ten, defining his position relative to
the presidency.
The letter from Mr.. Abbott follows:
My Dear Governor-In answer to
your letter in which you ask me, as
one of Mr.. Roosevelt's associates.
whether he would accept the nOmina
ton for the presidency, l can state my
views Of the situation in a few words
/ have no authority to speak for him,
and what | say is my own individual
opinion.
But | have had some exceptional
opportunities during the last two years
not only to learn his political princi
pies. but to see at times the intimate
workings of his mind, and believe l
clearly understand his attitude with
regard 10 the discussion Of his name /
as presidential possibility.
If Mr.. Roosevelt is ever elected |
president again it will not he because |
he seeks or wants the office; It will be .
because the country wants lim in the |
office to perform a certain job. He has
had all the political and Official honor
that any man can possibly want
He accepted a nomination for the
vice presidency in 1900 when such a
was thought 10 be equiva-
ent to political oblivion. and although
le wanted to run again for governor
If the state of New Yorl, i'm order to
some important work in that
,ffice. But his friends told him that it
vas his duty to sacrifice himself in
rider to strengthen Mr. IcKinley's
nomination ard the campaign for
ound money and national financial
onOr
He accepted the nomination on that
round, although at the time both his
riends and his enemies said that it
TOUld mean the end Of his political ca
eer. It did not end his career, how
yer, for in 1904 he was nominated
ractically without opposition and was
lected by an Overwhelming majority.
81 am convinced that he does not
esire the nomination ard Will enter
0 contest to obtain it, but | am
lually convinced that if his country
len have still further need of his ser
ices as their chief executive he will
D more decline their call than he
ecline to enlist, if needed, in time of
ar. 1t is, however, for his party and
Is country and for him 10 decide the
Iestion. If they decide to nominate
m ! am sure he will ac, ept; if they
ect him l am sure he VIII serve.
Il base my opinion upon his own
Ords. In the 18th of June, 1910, when
: arrived in New York on mis- return
ON Africa, he replied to Mayor Gay
,r's address of welcome as Follows:
Z am ready and eager to do my
Lrt, so far as l am able, in helping
I've problems which must be solved
we, of this greatest democratic re-
blic upon which the sun has ever
own, are to see its deslinies rise to
e high level of our hope and its op-
50 This is the duty of every citizen.
t it is peculiarly my duty; for any
IN who has ever been hOnored by
ing president of the United States IS
sreby forever after rendered debtor
the American people, and IS bound
ere throughout his life to remember
is as his prime obligation, and, in
ivate life. as much as Iii public life,
to carry himself that the American
ople may never have cause to feel
yret that once they placed him at
sir head"