The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-19

preliminary campaign, WIN Jue pos
sible exception of the failure of Rough
Rider tactics to stampede the conven-
ton in the Fourth Oklahoma District.
This message from Oyster Bay" is
deduced from a statement made BY
Colonel Roosevelts son-in-law, Repre-
sentative Nicholas Longworth, on leav-
ing the White House today. Long
worth has just returned from a visit to
his father-in-law, and today he an
nounced in unmistakable terms that
he was supporting President Taft for
the nomination and only him.
While before this Mr.. Longworth
has asserted a certain amount of in.
dependence from his distinguished
relative on matters of small import
ance, politicians here find it hard to
believe that he would openly oppose
his ambition for a third term if the
Colonel really desired it. At any rate
an air of optimism has been given the
Taft supporters, and they feel that this
appearance of confidence, after the de-
spondency of a few weeks ago, is just
that much clear gain.
81 have learned nothing" said Mr..
Longworth referring to his visit 10
Sycamore Hill, that will cause me 20
change my attitude toward President
Taft / am for his denomination and
election. I cannot discuss the attitude
of any one but myself, and for Mr..
Roosevelts attitude you'll have to ask
him; he is perfectly competent to
state it. But | do know that nothing
has occurred to change me one peg
from my announced attitude six weeks
ago thoroughly indorsing President
Taft"
What Mr., Longworth told the Presi-
dent cannot, of course, be ascertained:
but the intimation of confidence that
Mr., Roosevelt will not be a candidate
contained in the declaration of his SON
in-law throws interesting light on a
version Of the Coloners Aldine Club
dinner speech that has reached Wash
ington at first hand. According to this
version, which is vouched for by one
present at the dinner, what the Colonel
said, while making it clear that he
would not refuse to save the party
should the need arise, also made il
plain that he did not expect the need
to come. AS he is quoted here, he
said that it was Uncomfortable" that
things should reach such a pass that
his clear duty would require him to
hoist his flag.
Talk at the capital that was rather
vague yesterday about opening Taft
headquarters outside the White House
is today more definite and several
prominent Senators are earnestly con- !
details of such a plan. An ef-
fort was made to discredit their efforts
at the outset by saying that their plan
involved drawing Mr.. Hitchcock from
the Cabinet to assume control of their
headquarters with the sole object Of
prying him from Mr. Tafts official
family But one of the Senators in.
denied that emphatically. If
Mr. Hitchcock does take charge of the
Taft Campaign it will not be an ac.
count of the present plans of the Sen
ators backing the scheme for outside
headquarters.
There was a steady dribble of visit
ors at the White House today, assuring
the President of their loyalty and of
the loyalty of various parts of the
country. Former United States Sen
ator John l.. Wilson, of Washington,
was one of these. He is the owner OF
the Seattle PostIntellingencer, and
has quite a following on the Pacific
coast. He said that if the Republicans
repudiate their own President by re-
fusing a denomination they will be
beaten at the polls for fifteen years TO
come.
Il think anything else would mean
humiliation" he said warmly. 81 be.
lieve that he will be renominated and
reelected.
Former Representative Cheny, of In
diana, was another caller who express
ed the opinion that most Republicans
wanted Mr. Taft for President again.
Not Candidate, But
CHICAGO, Jan. 29.-'1 am not and
shall not be a candidate. shall not
seek the nomination. nor would l ac-
cept it If it came to me as the result
of an intrigue, But / will not tie my
hands by a statement which would
make it difficult or impossible for me
to serve the public by undertaking
great task, If the people, as a whole.
seemed definitely to come to the con
clusion that ought to do that task"
This statement is printed tonight in
the Chicago Evening Post in the shape
of a special dispatch from its New
WnrIy