The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-06
Senator LaFoLlette
Refuses to Onlt

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-The pro-
gressive Republican situation cleared
today, revealing Senator LaFollette
standing practically alone but refus-
ing to accept the candidacy OF Col.
Roosevelt as an expediency, though
the. strongest efforts OF many OF his
.-clQeest friends and advisers were
spent In an attempt TO induce him to
90 Bo
4 have been the standard-b bearer OF
principles. not Of individuals; no pos
sibie change In circumstances can
change the great issues for which /
have fought and will continue to fight.
~ can enlist in the ranks OF no man
unless he adopt publicly, in binding
terms. the true principles of progress
slve government by the people"
This statement summed up the an
aver given by LaFollette TO the lead
lrs who pleaded with him to come out
Tor Roosevelt. His refusal presents
ioday's problem with which the pro-
kressive leaders are contending.
Several progressives joined today in
an effort to bring about a meeting or
an exchange of correspondence be
tween Roosevelt and LaFollette. In
this manner they hoped to induce
\ Roosevelt, irrespective of whether he
is a candidate for the presidency, TO
make a declaration of principles, rep
Iesenting his attitude toward public
affairs and marking the general lines
along which his future actions may be
expected to be directed. These lead
crs hoped that they would be able 10
convince LaFollette that In fundamen-
tails, he and Roosevelt are on the same
ground They planned also to use the
Roosevelt declaration as a basis for
fight against the rapidly rising TAFT
organization strength.
Unless some such solution is found.
Il was made known positively today
that Senator LaFollette will go before
the Chicago convention IN opposition
TO Roosevelt and with whatever small
support OF loyal friends he may be
able TO hold, will fight TO the end for
--ifis- platform.
LaFollette stood today With prac-
tically only one big supporter--Gov
Hiram w. Johnson, of California, who
IS pledged to his support and who has
--Iold- Roosevelt that he will stand by
bis pledge until released by LaFoI-
lette personally, regardless OF what
the senator's fortunes may be.
LaFDllette's attitude in the present
situation, was made Known in a state
nlent to-day as follows:
"As a progressive leader OF proved
ability, Senator LaFollette was draft
cd as the leader OF the fight to be
made At Chicago; drafted at time
when the leadership was thought to
mean certain defeat Col Roosevelt
at that time positively eliminated him,
self from the 1912 fight and his fol
lowers for the most part being also
sincere admirers OF Senator LaFol
Iette pledged themselves TO the latter
sLaFollette claims that before con
senting to make the fight, he had
every assurance from Col Roosevelt
that the latter would not under any
conditions be candidate In 1912. La
Toilette started his fight at time
when the prospect for preventing the
denomination OF President Taft va;
ridiculously small.
"As the movement grew and the in
dications of possible progressive
strength developed the Roosevelt
boom was launched. This boom was
believed at hrst by many TO be In
reality back fire started by regular
Republicans TO split the progressive
movement The crisis was reached
when many OF those who pledged
themselves 10 IaFollette's support
but who In reality preferred Roose
welt. announced the discovery that La
4 Toilette could not win and that th'
Nation was demanding Roosevelt
The flnaI break came last FRIDAY