The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-05-10
ROOSEvELTS HIGH
STANDARD COSTS
EIGHT DELEGATES
Colonel Yields Claim to Bay
States Quota at Large.
HIS STAND UPON PRINCIPLE
"in This Fight" Says the Peoples
Champion, ~ Am Standing for Ger.
tain Great Principles Foremost
Among These 10 the Right Of the
People to Rule"

Washington. May 4.-If there exist.
ed in the mind of any American ciu
zen-Progressive or Reactionary-any
doubt as to the holiness Of purpose
which has characterized Theodore
Roosevelts course since he consented
to stand for the Republican nomina-
ton to the presidency, that doubt was
dissipated by Colonel Roosevelt's &C
ton In voluntarily releasing from their
pledge to support him the eight dele
gates-at-large elected in the presiden-
tial primary In Massachusetts,. This
action on the part Of Colonel Roose-
welt was taken by him Immediately
upon learning that Mr.. Taft, although
defeated In the fight for delegates,
had received a majority OF ballots in
preferential expression on presiden-
tial candidates. Mr.. Roosevelt did not
lose moment In letting the Bay State
delegates and the whole people under
stand just where he stood in the mat
ter. To each of the delegates at large
elected in Massachusetts, the Colonel
telegraphed the following statement:
In Massachusetts the ballot con-
tanned the names Of eight candidates
for deIeaates-at-large, printed under
each the words, pledged to Theodore
Roosevelt" and II also contained .
column In which the voter was to ex-
press his preference as to whether I
or Mr.. Taft should be nominated az
president. II would seem unlikely
that a majority OF tho voters could
both vote for the delegate pledged to
me and at the same time express
preference for Mr.. Taft, but appar-
emily this 10 what has happened.
Such being the case, and on the as
sumption that the preferential vote Is
for Mr.. Taft, ! hereby announce that
! shall expect these deiegates-at-Iarge
to disregard the pledge to support me
and to support Mr.. TAFT, and II any
one Of them hesltates 90 TO do, ! shall
Immediately write him and with all
emphasis and inslstence in my power
to take the course indicated and to
support Mr.. Taft In the conven tIon.
In this fight ! am standing for Ger
tain great principles, which regard as
vital to the present and future welfare
Of the nation. My success Is Of value
only as an incident to securing these
principles. Foremost among those
principles 10 the right Of the people to
rule and the duty Of the representa-
tives really to represent In the nomi-
mating convention no less than in
executive or legislative offices.
u the majority Of the rank and file
Of the Republican party do not want
me nominated, then most certainly I
don't wish to be nominated. My aim
| has been to get . genuine expression
Of their genuine desire precisely a.,
" nominated, I should desire to get at
the polls the genuine expression Of the
majority Of the whole, because my
only purpose In being elected presi-
dent would be to put into effect Ger.
tain principles and policies In which !
ardentiy believe, and which ! could
not forcibly put into effect unless !
leave behind me the hearty support Of
the majority Of our citizens.