The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-06-25
Had an Opportunity to Get
Nomination, But De-
clined, He Says
THE COLONEL SAYS
HE is ENCOURAGED
Expects to Draw Strength From the
Democrats-Will Form AN En-
tirely New Party-Can He
Hold His Following?


Cleveland, June PA new party from
After q series Of discussions with his
lieutenant today before leaving Chicago,
in which there were several sharp
clashes. Colonel Roosevelt decided to cut
entirely away from the party with which
his whole career has been identified. His
decision was a disappointment TO those
who favored the organization of what
might be considered an Independent re-
publican party with which state organi-
cations might cooperate and still MAIN
tain nominal regularity.
There must be no compromise, no
straddle." colonel Roosevelt said. As in
indication of his determination he said
that when he returned to oyster Bay he
would communicate With a number of
democrats who, he thought might wish
to join the new party.
Says He Is Pleased
When he had left Chicago with the first
plans completed, Colonel Roosevelt ex-
pressed himself as pleased with the out
come of the convention week, although 1t
in which his action had been received
was encouraging and he had mass of
letters and kilograms from all parts of
the country, from both democrats and
republicans, Offering support.
The republican nomination for Presl-
dent, Colonel Roosevelt asserted tonight,
was his for the asking on the day that
President Taft was renominated. He de-
clined to accept it. he said on the terms
under xVhich 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 con-
vention when it was apparent the tide
of battle had turned resistlessly against
him. 1t was plan to seize control of the
convention at the last moment by sud-
den move, overturn the Taft majority
and make Roosevelt the nominee.
Some Inside History
This is the story as he told 1t:
Early Saturday morning a group OF
delegates from southern states arranged
a private interview with Colonel Roose-
welt. They told him they had come to
offer him the nomination. They had with
them list of the known Roosevelt dele
gates and stated that they We're author
lied to speak for block of Taft dele
gates who were willing to swing oyer to
Roosevelt to avert a rupture in the
".
they assured Colonel Roosevelt, was
large enough to nominate him or any 9TH
er candidate he might name.
One provision was made. Colonel Roose-
welt continued. 1t was that he must ac-
cept the nomination from the convention
az then composed and not insist upon the
removal of the rs delegates whom he con-
tended were fraudulent before he recog-
nzed any act of the convention. The
delegates told him, he said, that their
band would stand the ground on the roll
call fofNthe presidential nominee, but that
it would be hopeless for them to attempt
to combine with the Roosevelt minority to
unseat the rs delegates.
Colonel Roosevelt said he informed
these emissaries that if he should be
nominated 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
a pledge signed by 80 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 rs contested delegates. The
attempt failed.
Colonel Roosevelt said that a consid-
cradle number of signatures to the pledge
were obtained, but that 1t had proved
impossible to hold sufficiently large part
of the delegates in line for the course of
action upon which he insisted to give 1t
the chance of SUCCESS.
Can He Hold Strength?
The chief point of interest to Colonel
Roosevelts supporters today was wheth-
er they would be able to carry with
them the strength of the following which
Colonel Roosevelt has heretofore had
within the republican party. Some of
them said frankly that the movement
inc, 4 he mt Ot,
since Colonel Roosevelt had been ths
choice of the party in a number of re-
publican states, it would be possible to
bring those states in line for the new
party.
No plan has yet been decided upon by
which 1t would be possible to effect such
a transfer of workable organizations from
the republican party to the new enter
prise. 1t is recognized that there exists
the danger of so many defections that in
some cases the machinery may be either
badly damaged in the process or left in
the hands of the regular republicans.
Colonel Roosevelt expressed confidence
that a way would be found, He said
he ultimately would have the support of
the substantial part of the organizations
which were with him in the campaign
of the last four months. 1t is his opinion
that the pressure of public sentiment viii
be sufficient n some states to bring this
about and that while there may be nu-
merous defections. 1t viii be possible to
fill the gaps with volunteers
To Have Entire Ticket
In cases in which the republican state
Organizations as whole are against him
ii is his plan to get up new machinery
with complete state and national tickets.
1t is his opinion that wherever public
sentiment is in his favor it will be merely
a question of detail how his supporters
are to work out a plan of expressing
themselves at the polls.
With the announcement in Chicago by
Governor Johnson of California of the
committee on organization, the movement
assumed more definite shape. and it was
said that in several states the leaders
had begun their work. Governor john
son said the national convention would
take place late in July or early in Au-
gust The place has not been selected.
A report that the convention might decide
to give up the fight this year should the
democratic national convention nominate
a candidate who would he recognized as
a progressive was denied b. Colonel
Roosevelt.
The former President is due in New
York at as tomorrow morning. Thence