Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-27
ROOSEVELT Will
PLAY HOMELAND
Says big, Sinister Influence"
Are Determined to Eliminate
Film from Public Life.

Oyster Bay, N. y. june 8.--The issue
upon which Colonel Roosevelt is to make
his campaign for the presidency was In
dicaSed by him to-day He proposes 20
base his appeal upon tho assertion that
what he has termed the ''big. SINISTER
Influences" have determined 20 eliminate
him from public nfe because he Is the
one man whom they really fear. To &C
complish this purpose. he believes they
are willing to take up any man who
they rhink can win the presidency over
him. Having defeated him at the Chi
cago convention. he says. they hope to
control the democratic convention TO this
same end.
''They know me and know them"
he said. 1T IL anything TO beat me.
am fighting lone-hand and am going
TO fight II out TO tho end
The former President male this re-
mark after a long conference with
William A. Prendergast. comptroller
of the city Of New York. Mr.. Prem
| dergast came to oyster Bay TO induos
Colonel Roosevelt TO say definitely
| that under no circumstances would ha
withdraw from the fight.
Has any suggestion been maAeS
| any man other than colonel Roosevelt
| should lead the fight for the new
| party?"
IT viii answer that question for Mr..
| Pren1ergast" said the colonel TN
the statement which made IN Chicago
on Monaav sati that I would stay
| in the fight TO the end Since then /
havs received hundreds OF Letters and
l COLI ma ~ yuwfe =
and not one Of them suggested that I
get out Of Il. In every case my reply
is Just what said in Chicago"
WOULD MAKE ISSUE CLEAR
The comptroller said tho reason he
was anxious to make II clear that
Colonel Roosevelt would make the
fight was that the interests which de-
feated him at Chicago would DO any
thing in their power TO keep him out
Of the White House. and for that pur-
pose would gladly accept any other
progressive. In Chicago, ne continued,
some Of the Taft leaders asked him
10 20 TO Colonel Roosevelt with the
offer to give the nomination to Gov
ernor Hadey or any other man the
colonel might name. They had even
offered. he said. to put the Roosevelt
delegates from Texas and Washington
back on the list II he would consent
TO this Colonel Roosevelt corroborated
this statement. and added that the
same interests were hard at work at
the Baltimore convention and were
willing to take up any OF the demo-
cratic progressives II they thought
they could defeat him.
Comptroller Prendergast said in a state
ment that re had pointed out to Colonel
Roosevelt that the overshadowing issue
was whether the nomination for the
presidency can be stolen. and the people
. given no opportunity to pass Judgment
on the theft"
1.-THE object for which this fraud wa:
perpetrated he said. was the defeat o.
Mr.. Roosevelt. not the nomination o.
anybody. This conspiracy will be success
!. full II any other man is elected TO The
presidency The object of every homes
. man should therefore be to elect him
. Should either Mr. Taft or a democrat be
elected. the success of the conspiracy
will be complete. II the presidency. OF
q nomination for II. can he stolen anc
the thieves escape unpublished. what Sc
Eirity can there be for property o!
ORDER"