Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-05
Pres. Abbott ofCoI. RO0Se-
veIt's Business House
Says The Colonel Is Not a
! Candidate for Presidency.
lntimates That He Speaks with Au.
therity..not Yet Denied.

Cornwall on Hudson. n. y. Jan. A.
Col Theodore Roosevelt is not can
didate for the Presidency, according
to Lawrence f. Abbott, president of
+ the Outlook Co. of New York, with
which Mr.. Roosevelt is actively asso-
\ ciated. This statement is made. today.
I in the Local Press, weekly newspa-
per published here, the home of DR..
Abbott
The statement is a lengthy one and
reviews Mr.. Roosevelt's connection
+ with national politics, during the last
4 three years 1t was forthcoming, so
the editor of the Local Press says.
VIXEN he asked Mr. Abbott whether
Mr. Roosevelt was a candidate for the
Presidency. You must understand to
begin with" Mr. Abbott says. in what
is termed dictated statement, THAT
whatever I say in answer to your
question | say solely on my own re-
sponsibility and without any consul
tation with Mr.. Roosevelt.
You ask me whether Mr.. Roosevelt
is a candidate for the Presidency.
answer no. He is not a candidate; he
doesn't desire to be candidate; he
has discouraged and is discouraging
in every possible way all talk of his
candidacy; and he will take no active
share of any kind in the contest Of
various andidates--contests which are
always in evidence for two or three
months preceding any national con-
vention.''
Mr. Abbott then recounts Mr.. Roose-
veltts connection with national poll
tics for three years past lin order to
understand the present political sit
uation with regard to the Presidential
nomination next summer"
He next tells how Mr.. Roosevelt de-
clined the Republican nomination in
1905, (which he very easily could have
had" and how Mr.. Taft's. nomination
and election were brought about.
His fRoosevelt's) political expert
ence contributed so largely to the sue
cessful result of the election that his
critics have said that he alone nomi
mated and elected Taft" Mr. Abbott
says. and he continues:
.Unfortuna tely some of Mr.. Tafts
advisors took this mistaken view of
the case and
urged him to separate himself so thor
oughly from any Roosevelt association
that his administration create its own
policies and that thus he might be
renominated and reelected in 1912 on
his own individual merits without any
faint of Rooseveltism.
Mr.. Roosevelt has never failed, Mr.
Abbott declares, to respond quickly
and cordially to the slightest wish ex-
pressed by Mr.. Taft for his company
or his views and he instances the
private interview at New Haven dur
ing the autumn of 1910 between Mr.
Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt. That meet
ing, he says, it has been unfortunately
reported. was sought by Mr.. Roosevelt
to get some help in his contest with
the old Guard in the state. Mr.. ABB
bott adds:
THE facts are-aH3 / have learned
them. not from Mr.. Roosevelt. but from
a friend of Mr.. Taft who knew all the
cjrcumstances-that Mr.. Taft sent word
to Mr.. Roosevelt asking him to come in
order that he fMr. Taft might get the
benefit of Mr.. Roosevelt's advice regard
ing the serious split in the national af-
fairs of the Republican party which re-
suited in the fight of Progressives
against so-called Cannonism.
Roosevelt does or says viii be interpreted
by some of his critics to his disadvan-
tage and he instances an article by Mr.
Roosevelt on the trust question published
several weeks ago. Its publication was
held by some. Mr.. Abbott says, to be an
indication that Mr. Roosevelt was seek
ing the Presidency and that the appear
ance Of the article was timed by him
the greatest effect II there was ans
political astuteness in its appearance ac-
cording to Mr. Abbott ii should go to the
editor of his publication. who suggested
the article and fixed the date for its
publication
II Mr.. Roosevelt is ever elected Presi-
dent again. according to Mr.. Abbott, 1t
will not be because he seeks or wants
the Office. but because the country wants
him to perform certain job.