Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-07
Candidate Gives Out Mis-
sive He Sent to Publisher
= Last January in Which
He Announced Receptivity
BLAMES WHITE HOUSE
FOR OTHER LETTER
Epistle to Editor Written
After Taft Men Claimed
RooseveltSupport;; Causes
Further Explanation.

New York, March 5.-To clear up
conflicting statements as to what he
/! had said in the past in regard to the
presidential nomination, Col. Roose'
welt today made public letter which
he wrote last January to Frank A.
Munsey, the publisher. Col. Roose-
ve1t's object in giving out the COM
mun1cation, he said was to refute the
charge that he was. breaking promise
in agreeing to accept the nomination
| If it were offered to him. He called
particular attention to a passage in
the letter in which, while stating that
he would not be candidate, he de-
clared that he would not 60 on record
as being unwilling to accept the NOM
nation.
ITO every man I talked to-" said
COL Roosevelt, II made in substance
that same statement and l made 1t in
literally hundreds Of letters"
The portion of the Munsey letter to
which the colonel called particular at
tention follows:
what I have said to you, and am
about to say to you, l have for in
stance, said not only to other friends
who think l. ought to be nominated,
but the friends land even foes) who
think l ought not to be nominated,
provided only I could trust their SIN
certify, intelligence and truthfulness.
For instance, I have said the same
thing to Secretary Stimson, Secre-
Meyer and Congressman Longworth,
who are supporting Taft: to Mr..
Pinchot and congressman Lenroot
and Kent who are supporting LaFol-
lette I have said that to editors like
Mr. Nelson, Mr.. Van Valkenberg and
Mr. Wright; practically said that to
the entire Aldine club democrats,
republicans, everyone.
II am not and shall not be candi-
date. 1 shall not seek the nomination,
nor would I accept it If it came to me
as the result of an intr: le. But will
not tie my hands by q statement
which would make it difficult or i'm
possible for me to serve the public by
undertaking great task if the peo-
pie as whole seemed definitely to
come to that conclusion that l ought
to do that task. In other words AS far
as in me lies, am endeseoring to look
at this matter purely from the stand
point Of public interest, of the inter-
est of the people as whole, and not
in the least from my own standpoint.
IF should consult only my own
pleasure and interests 1 should most
emphatically and Immediately an
nounce that would under no circum-
stances run. had had all the honor
than any man can have from holding
the office of president From every
personal standpoint there is nothing
for me to gain either in running for
the office or in holding the office orce
more, and there is very much to lose"
The Van Valtenbers Letter.
Oyster Bay, March 5.-Colonel
Roosevelt last night gave out brist-
ling statement explaining the letter
which the he wrote to E. A. Van Val
kenberg, publisher of a Philadelphia
on June ~, 1911. This let
ter, which was made public yesterday
for the first time, assured Van Val
kenberg that the colonel had no in
tention of running for the presidency
again and it is being used by the pro-
Taft faction to add strength to the
that the Roosevelt mind has
had complete change since the date
Of the letter. 49,.
Roosevelt eXOnerates Van Valken- !
berg Of giving the public the text Of
his letter, part Of which was as fol-
lows: .
June u, 1911.-My Dear Mr. Van
I am really obliged to
you Now will you not give Mr. Nc
CATCHY from me copy of this letter
that I am writing to you and also send