The Sentinel=record., 1912-06-04
ROOSEVELT
 PLANS FIGHT
WILL OPPOSE SELECTION OF ROOT AS TEMPORARY CHAIR.
 MAN OF CONVENTION.
Says New York Man Has Been Chosen to Defeat Progressives--Gives Out Interview and Appeals
 to Delegates.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, June 3.-Upon the selection of temporary chairman of the republican national convention may hang the political fortunes of ex. President Roosevelt
 He decided tonight to oppose with all his strength the seating of Sena tor Root and issued call to all his supporters to stand by him Colonel Roosevelt declares that MT. Root has ranged himself against the men who stand for progressive principles within the republican party" and says 1t is William Barnes Jr, of New York, who is to be the real head of the Taft canvass at Chicago.
 The colonel's decision to make a square issue of seating of MT. Root was reached after a long consultation with advisers. At Sagamore Hill to- day were Senator Dixon, Clifford Pin. chot William l.. Warl, New York; George w. Perkins, New York: Frank B. Kellogg and Andrew Rahn, both of whom are from Minnesota, and Trux. ton Beale, a delegate from California.
 After Colonel Roosevelt had com pleted his statement he brought up the question of whether he is to go to the Chicago convention.
 After hearing what the men have seen today have to say" he said, my impression is that I will not go may reach different decision if any strong arm tactics are attempted"
 Following is in part the statement dictated today at sagamore Hill by Colonel Roosevelt:
 Tn the past Mir Root has rendered distinguished service as secretary of state and secretary of war. But in this contest Mir. Root has ranged him. self against the men who stand for progressive principles within the re. publican party that is. against the men who stand for making the re- publican party. in relation to the is- sues of the present day, what it was in the days of Abraham Lincoln. He stands as a representative of the men and policies of reaction. He is put forward by the bosses and the repre- sentatives of special privileges.
 What has recently come to my knowledge makes it clear that it is a question of the absolute duty of every progressive republican to op- pose the selection as temporary chair man at Chicago of any man put for ward in the interests of supporters of MT. Taft in this contest I have be fore me a copy of the following tele gram sent to Roosevelt delegate from Pennsylvania, Mir. Philip K. Bar her.
 The national committee has SC lected Senator Root of New York for temporary chairman of the convention at Chicago. It is reported that the Roosevelt forces will oppose the action of the committee. am wiring you in behalf of the New York delegation, with the exception of a very few, to ask your support for Senator Root for temporary chairman. We believe this contest is the most serious one which has afflicted the republican party and that the attempt to nomi- nate MT. Roosevelt can lead only to disaster. The doctrines which he thas advocated. we declared in our plat form at the Rochester convention to be subversive of our form of govern ment Will you please wire me New York City collect, whether We can rely on your support for Senator Root as temporary chairman?
 WILLIAM J. BARNES JR.
 "Telegrams like this have been sent to a great number of the delegates. This telegram makes the issue per feetly clear. It is one of principles. not persons. Mir. Barnes demands Mir. Roots selection as the sign of repa- diation of the principles for which 1 stand. and as an indorsement of the doctrines enunciated at the Rochester convention. Those doctrines are so bourbon and reactlonary that in every open primary in every northern state since the Rochester convention was held, the people have overwhelmingly repudiated them. This telegram of MT. Barnes shows that the leader and real head of Mir. Taft's canvass at Chicago is to be MT. Barnes. In the next