New-York tribune., 1912-03-07
Financier Speeds Into Village In
High Powered Limousine and
Spends Only Short Time
with Roosevelt.
MYSTERY IN HURRIED VISIT
Colonel Replies to Secretary
Stimson Denying Having Been
Forced Into Arena" Any
More Now than in Govern
orship Fight in 1910.


Oyster Bay, Long Island March g.
George w. Perkins. former partner OF
J. p. Morgan. paid a mysterious visit
to Theodore Roosevelt here to-day.
Mr. Perkins's supposed activity in be-
half of Colonel Roosevelt and his connec-
ton with the International Harvester
Company have furnished campaign ma
terial For the colonel's opponents since he
declared himself willing to accept the
Presidential nomination.
Mr. Perkins slipped irconspicuously
into oyster Bay late this afternoon. All
that was seen in the village was high
powered limousine which sped through
the snow at such clip that no one could
tell who was within it. The New York
financier remained only short time at
Sycamore Hill before starting on the
return trip to New York.
All that Colonel Roosevelt would say
of the visit was that Mr.. Perkins came
as the bearer Of a message from Sena-
tor Dixon, the coloners campaign man.
ager.
When he was seen in the afternoon
the colonel said he had received tele-
phone message from his secretary in
New York saying that Senator Dixon
would pass through New York between
| 9 and II o'clock this evening and
% ha
Dixon could remain in the city only
three hours il was said. Colonel Roose-
welt replied that the would he unable to
go to town TO see the Senator. He was
! then told, he said, that Senator Dixon
might send message to oyster Bay.
but the colonel did not say whether lie
knew who the message bearer would be.
Roosevelt Admits Visit.
When it became known that Mr.. Per-
kins had gone to Sycamore Hill, Colonel
Roosevelt was asked whether he careI
to say anything about the object of tho
visit. He sent back word that Mr.. Per-
kins had come from New York with a
message from Senator Dixon. and after
visit of a few minutes had started
back for New York The colonel addei
that he would say nothing else in re-
gard 10 Mr.. Perkins's visit Later in
the evening, he said, he might receive
another message from Senator Dixon.
but he declared in advance that if such
a message came he would have nothing
to say about il. II was about 9 o'clock
in the evening, presumably some time
before Senator Dixon reached New
York. that Mr.. Perkins arrived at Saga
more Hill.
on March dispatches from the West
appeared in the newspapers, alleging
that La Toilette supporters in North Da-
kota were turning from Roosevelt and
supporting Taft because of the connec-
ton OF Mr. Perkins and Medill McCor-
mick, OF Chicago, with the international
Harvester Company. Mr. Mccormick
has been one of the leaders in the
Roosevelt movement, and managed the
Roosevelt bureau at Washington before
Senator Dixon took charge. Mr.. Perkins
Is chairman OF the finance committee OF
the international Harvester Company,
and is regarded az one of the most i'm
porrant factors in the affairs OF that
corporation. He is also director Of the
United States Steel Corporation.
Matter Of personal Friendship"
Colonel Roosevelt merely laughed when
the Western dispatches were shown 20
him. as though he thought the matter
not worthy of comment, and would not
saw a word on the subject. He has been
quoted as having said that whatever Mr..
Perkins did in hts behalf was done for
no other reason than because Of Mr..
Ptrkins's personal friendship for him.
when George w Perkins reached his
home in New York tonight he refused
70 even admit that he had visited
Colonel Roosevelt at Oyster Bay to-day.
"I will not answer that or any other
question bearing on politics., ne said'
when asked II he had just returned from
the ex-President's home.
Does that mean that you did not see
Colonel Roosevelt to-day"
II will not answer that question" he
said.
When II was suggested to Mr.. Perkins
that an explanation of the purpose of his
visit would obviate speculation that
might be wide Of the mark he said:
'I have had numerous requests for po-
Iitical interviews from newspaper men.
but when / have anything to say viii
make a formal statement"
Late last night Mr. Perkins said:
Yes did go down to oyster Bay to-
day to carry message to Colonel Roose-
Welt from Senator Dixon. The Senator
called TO see me earlier in the day. and
simply acted for him I'm this matter.
I went down to oyster Bay, left the en-
yelope and came back. / did not have
anv conference with Colonel Roosevelt.
I was only there few moments. No.
will not discuss the message. IL is not
for me to add anything to what Colonel
Roosevelt may have said about IT.
Mr.. Perkins was asked whether he had
q conference with Senator Dixon at his
home late last night.