The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-17
ROOSEVELT TELLS
Of HIS SILENCE
Limit to Things That He Viii
-s.sss Discuss. He Declares
in Interview
MENTIONS A FEW
HE HAS TABOOED
One Is Refusal to Refuse
Nomination Which Has
Not Been Offered
Him Yet

OYSTER BAY, n. v. Jan. l6.--How
can a man refuse that which has not
been offered?
In these equiyocal words. Coz,
Roosevelt replied to the blunt ques-
ton tonight on his return from a day
at his editorial offices in New York,
as to whether he would consent to a
denomination for President Ii the Chi
cago convention next June should Of
fer It to ifttfs.
On the way from New York the
Colonel talked with the International
News SERVES correspondent OF the re-
cent Roosevelt boom and insisted. cnce
again, that he had nothing to do - itn
any such move.
Il have already quoted President
Lincoln in speaking of all this talk"
remarked the Colonel.
This II u bridge that Justly I can
not be asked to cross Until l have
come to it." Is what Lincoln said.
There IL another author whose words
come to me.
Then the ex-President uttered the
expression respecting the possibility
OF accepting anything that had MOI
been offered.
That's all can say nurmlred the
Colonel.
About Perkins Boom.
Col. Roosevelt was asked about ad-
vices from Indianapolis conveying in
formation that George W Perkins.
former partner Of ]. +. Morgan. was
definitely known to be the financial
hacker of Wall Street boom for
Rooseveit's nomination. The Colonel
became serious.
81 txx1u
friend he replied.
II has teen pure friendship. rne
fact Is that Mir. Perkins never asked
me for anything and never asked MIN
tor anything ] have no actuai knoMt
edge OF his present activities. AZ to
s1As. Psrkaus ina ncAng any .ealnpaA2yl
Tor rue, can only reLeal What SAID
In New ork TO-DAY. ! have no time
or disposition to discuss pipe iii cams,
from Indianapolis or anywhere else.
there al some aes this OF tomfooiery to
whie h ! cannot 60"
The Colonel in discussing the Per-
kins story. recalled his comment upon
" harion Bankers testimony before the
steel trust inquisitors in Washington
recently. when Barker declared that
a prominent railroad man had told him
that Roosevelt, before his election TO
the presidency in 1904 had promised to
tie lenient with the railroads. AL that
time the Colonel remarked:
What He Won't Discuss
II would as soon as discuss a pipe
dream OF an out patient OF Bedlam
as to talk OF this"
Il can say the same about this Per-
kins affair."" he observed.
The break in relations between
President Taft and Postmaster Gem
eral Hitchcock. which came to a crisis
with the Postmaster Generals uneA-
-peeted declaration for government
ownership OF the telegraph lines. was
PREACHED.
Il have not seen Mr.. Hitchcock In
some months" said Colonel Roose-
Welt. During that time l have not
heard from him that recall. All the
reports that l have received OF dis
agreement between him and Presi-
dent Taft have come through the
newspapers. do not care to discuss
them"
1T il suggested that Mr.. Hitchcock
will get out of the cabinet to man
age a campaign for you," was VEN
tured.
"Oh. I'll not discuss any such thing
as that" replied the colonel, impa-
tiently. The talk drifted to the sit.
uation In the West
About Nebraska Preference.
Mr.. Roosevelt .Mas. asked. Liz he
would take advantage OF the Nebras-
ka law, which permits any one with
drawing his name from the ballots
for expression Of presidential pref
erence at the spring primaries. in the
event that his name Is printed on the
ballots.
II have not one thing to say about
that" was the reply. Il have taken
no action regarding Nebraska or any
other State. and do not intend to
take any,"
: Regarding this report that fttftam
Barnes has 1t In his head to bring
about the nomination Of Nicholas
Murray Butler for Governor. the col
onel merely smiled and exclaimed:
isn't that interesting
The colonel made brief comment
Upon Inc supreme Court decision -upr
holding the employees Hal iIitp-~Ia
for which the ex-President has firm
-iy stood. --------------