New-York tribune., 1912-02-07
PINS HOPE ON ROOSEVELT
Amos PInChot Says ProgresSiveS
Must Unite on Him.
LA TOILETTE MEN DAZED
Governor Johnson of California
Here, but Keeps Silent on
Senator's Withdrawal.

II was regarded as significant that Amos
yesterday that the withdrawal Of Senator
La Toilette left his followers free to get
behind Roosevelt. I'm view Of the fact that
Clifford Pinchot, his brother. had had a con-
ference with Mr. Roosevelt on Monday
night
Those who are now pinning their hopes
Of beating President Taft for denomination
are doing their utmost to get Mr.. Roose-
welt to make a statement saying that he
would accept the nomination if IT should be
offered. They would like TO have him come
out openly as a candidate for the nomina-
ton, but they realize that such statement
would hardly be forthcoming They do,
however, want Mr.. Roosevelt placed on
record as saying that he would not decline
II nominated. The impression has been
given out that Mr. Roosevelt has intimated
as much to many of his friends but 1t is
realized that such intimations would not be
binding on him.
At the Office of THE Outlook" yesterday
Mr.. Roosevelt would not comment on the
withdrawal Of Senator La Toilette from the
race on account OF i'll health. except to say
II am as sorry as any one could be that he
IS sick"
Governor Hiram w Johnson of Cali
focnia the chief La Toilette boomer on the
Pacific Coast maintained silence at the
Waldorf Yesterday. Through a proxy he
said he was too busy to see newspaper men
and had no comment to make on the with
drawal Of Senator La Toilette.
In his statement Mr.. Pinchot acknowl-
edged that the decision of the Progressives
20 support an anti-Taft candidate was for
the purpose Of preventing harmony in the
Republican party.
III there was no Progressive Republican
candidate in 1912" he said, party loyalty
and hostility to the Democrats in a great
national election would tend 10 weld the
Progressives and reactionary Republicans
together so that the former as an effective
fighting unit would disappear, and the cause
Of government for the benefit of the aver
age man would suffer a serious setback"
After saying that Senator La Toilette
had demonstrated that the way 10 save the
Republican party in 1912 was to nominate
"A Progressive candidate, Mr.. Pinchot went
on:
His withdrawal from the race simply
means that the Progressives realize that,
owing 10 the growing demand for Roose-
NtIt, ana owing 10 the senator : Ncdll,
La Toilette cannot himself accomplish the
purpose which has at all times meant more
TO him than his Individual success. With
La Toilette out of the race, his followers
are free to get behind Roosevelt and con-
tinue the old fight with another leader
Many la Toilette men feel that Roose-
welt is not as advanced in his progressive
ness as La Toilette But, however that
may be. IL. is clear that la Toilette and
Roosevelt are agreed on most fundamental
POINTS and. above all. that they have the
same real conviction that the country be
longs to the people, and that Its govern
ment must be an instrument for the peo-
pies benefit.
It seems entirely plain 10 me that SEN
ator La Follette's withdrawal was the only
sure means Of uniting all the Progresslves.
0f irSuriug the nomination Of some Pro-
c,ressive, and OF making II possible i'm 1912
for the average Republican voter TO cast
a ballot IN his own interest. and not IN
the interest Of political and industrial
bosses.
William Mitchell, OF Augusta, after a
short talk with Mr. Roosevelt yesterday.
announced TO the newspaper men that he
had been talking TO our next President"
He repeated what has been said over and
over again. that Mr.. Roosevelt was not a
candidate but would accept II nominated.
although Mr. Mitchell did not speak with
any authority.
Among Mr.. Roosevelt's other callers were
Colonel and Mrs. George ". Goethals'
Colonel Goethals talked entirely about the
rrogress Of the Panama Canal and had no
political predictions TO make when he went
away.