The Hartford republican., 1912-06-28
SPURNED OFFER
OF NOMINATION
Teddy Could Have Been
Chosen Nominee.
Southern Delegates Would Have
Changed But Wanted Fraud
ulent List Of Delegates.

Cleveland, o., June 2-A new party
from the ground up is the Roosevelt
program. Col. Roosevelt has decided to
cut entirely away from the party with
which his whole public career has been
Identified.
There must be no compromise, no
straddle," Col. Roosevelt saAd
AS an indication of his determine
ton, he said that when he returned to
Oyster Bay he would communicates
with number of Democrats, who. he
thought, might wish to join the new
party.
With the first plans completed and
his leaders scattering to all parts Of
the country, Col. Roosevelt expressaf
himself as pleased with the outcome Of
the convention week. although 1t was
unexpected to him.
He said he had mass of letters
| and kilograms from all parts of the
country, from both Democrats and Re-
publicans. offering support.
The Republican nomination for Presi-
dent. Col. Roosevelt asserted. was his
for the asking ON the day that Presi-
dent Taft was nominated. He declined
to accept it, he said, on the terms un-
der which the offer was made
On his way back to Oyster Bay. tho
former President gave glimpse into
the secret history of the last day Of
the convention when 1t was apparent
that the tide Of the battle had turned
resistlcssly against him. 1t was plan
the last moment by sudden move,
overturn the Taft majority and mako
Roosevelt the nominee.
This Is the story as he told 1t:
Early Saturday morning a groupe Of
delegates from Southern States ar
ranged a private Interview with Col
Roosevelt They told him they hal
come to offer him the nomination.
They had with them list of the
|
that they were authorized To speak
for block of Taft delegates who wers
willing to swing over to Roosevelt to
avert rupture in the party. Tha
number of these delegates. they as
sursd Col. Roosevelt, was large enough
to nominate him or any other candi-
date he might name.
One provision was named. Col.
Roosevelt continued. II was that he
must accept the nomination from the
convention as then composed, and not
insist upon the removal OF the seventy
eight delegates who he contended were
fraudulent before he would recognize
any act of the convention.
The delegates told him. he said. that
their band would stand together on
the ron call for the presidential nomi-
nee. but that 1t would be hopeless for
them to attmpte to combine with tho
Roosevelt minority to unseat the sew
enty eight delegates.
Col Roosevelt said he Informed these
emissaries that II he should be noani-
mated under these conditions he would
not accept the nomination.
He told them to go to the delegates
whom they represented and bring
back to him pledge signed by thirty
delegates. agreeing TO combine with
the Roosevelt delegates and make the
attempt to start all over again to
organize the convention and to unseat
the seventy-eight contested delegates.
The attempt failed.
Col Roosevelt said that consider
able number OF signatures to the pledge
was obtained, but that 1t had proved
impossible to hold sufficiently largo
part Of the delegates In line for tho
course of action upon which he In
| aiaf.ad IN a ri ha oh Of