Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-02-17
PROGRESSN[S pop
ROOSEVELT GUN
Colonel May Fire Opening Gun Of the
Progressive Campaign In Reply
to Demand of Governors.

New York, Feb. 15.--After q confer
ence between Theodore Roosevelt,
Governor Hiram Johnson. OF Califor-
MIA: ex-senator Finn, of Pittsburg.
William Nelson, Of the Kansas City
Star, and E. A. Van Valkenburg, of
the Philadelphia North American, the
platform upon which Colonel Roose-
welt will stand for reelection. II he is
nominated by the Republican national
convention in Chicago. was outlined.
The conferees lunched with the col
onel at. the National Arts club and
then put In several hours at the Out
look office editing the speech which
Colonel Roosevelt will make before
the Ohio constitutional convention In
Columbus on Feb. 81. and In which he
will make declaration OF his progress
sive policies.
1t is just possible that Colonel
Roosevelt may fire the opening gun OF
the Progressives-aocordin Roose-
velt-campaign in the letter in which he
will reply to the demand of the con
ference of Progressive governors, held
last Saturday In Chicago, for more
light to guide them upon their way,
but from what those who talked with
Colonel Roosevelt said, it seems prob
able that the letter to the governors
will not be made public until after the
Columbus speech.
Oscar Straus, the ex-president's for
mer secretary Of commerce and labor,
was present during part of the confer
ence, and Clifford Piuchot, the colo
nel's former chief forester and present
political friend; his brother, Amos;
| Colonel ID. A. Collier. Of San Diego,
Cal, and Seth Bullock. United States
marshal from South Dakota, were
among the colonel's callers.
II the conference had as a par. q
it's purpose the securing of the colo
jnel's consent to q definite declaration
OF his candidacy. II evidently failed IN
that part, for Mr.. Van Valkeuburg
said later that 1t would be "princinlss
and not persons" that would fguse I'm
the colonel's Columbus speech. He
admitted that the greater part of the
time during which he and the others
were closeted with Mr.. Roosevelt had
been spent in going over and discus
sing the various points in the speech.
He nodded yes" when asked II the
speech would be an enunciation OF
Progressive principles. There would
be no word In the speech, said Mr..
Van Valkenburg, concerning the colo
nePs position as possible candidate,
Colonel Collier, who, in addition to
looking after the interests of the San
Diego Panama exposition, has been
sounding the Roosevelt sentiment In
thirty-five states, according to his own
statement. was more specific than the
other visitors concerning the colonels
platform" II would be satisfactory
to the rank and Ale of the party, but
might not please the extreme radi
calls" Mr.. Collier thought. He adde
that Mr. Roosevelt, If elected, would
not be "as radical as IaTollette."
He added that II Colonel Roosevelt
was not the choice of the convention
he would take the stump for anv Dem
ocrat except Harmon. And there or
lots Of others who feel as do" said
Mr.. Collier
AS to Colonel Roosevelt's strength
In Pennsylvania, Mr., Van Valkenburg
said: Wen get some delegates." AMI
when asked If he believed with some
enthusiasts that Pennsylvania con
vention delegation will be made up
OF at least one-third Roosevelt men
he replied that Pennsylvania has
pretty god ballot law" and that "the
Roosevelt sentiment is very strong, al
though the machine has control"