The Washington times., 1912-01-03
LAFOLLETTE WILL
NOT QUIT, Is WORD
OF PROGRESS|VES
Right to Nomination as Good
as Roosevelt's, Fol-
lowers Declare.
By JUDsoN c. wELL1yER.

By JUDS0N c. wELLIvER.
Under no circumstances will Senator
La Toilette be Withdrawn as a candi-
date for the Presidential nomination.
Under no circumstances will Colonel
Roosevelt be announced as an active
for 1t.
The friends Of La Toilette feel Just
as well justified In making a fight for
a man VINO is an avowed candidate as
the friends Of Roosevelt can possibly
feel In making a fight for one who is
not an avowed candidate.
La Toilette will stay In the field.
IL the Roosevelt movement goes on, II
Will simply result In the division of the
progressive strength. and will increase
the I s,,n danger Of Taft's nomination"
me foregoing Is the substance OF a
phatic terms. by member Of the Ma
t1onal Progressive Republican League.
The speaker Is fully authorized to speak
Tor the organlzation. OF which he was
one or the charter members and an Of
ficer. He already has stumped in the
La Toilette cause, and will do more OF
~; and he Is one Of the most widely
known members of the Congressional
group OF progressives.
Later Statement Probable.
The speaker would not agree that Ills
name might be used, though there Is rea-
son to anticipate that before long a
more formal statement substantially of
the same effect will be issued by some
of the La Toilette supporters.
The speaker discussed the Roose-
velt-La Toilette situation with ut
most frankness.
"Without doubt or uncertainty" he
said. Colonel Roosevelt wants the
nomination. But he wants II to come
to him by reclamation and without
his bis becoming an avowed candidate.
by. this situation. There
Is no chance Of his being nominated
none whatever--unless he gets busy
In the East ana captures the delega-
vania. II either OF those two states
declares for him and gives him its
delegation. he will have a chance.
with one such big. telling block Of
Roosevelt's friends would be doing their
most effective work organizing in the
East. They have not much to gain in
the West: because in the prairie States
than Roosevelt. That is my
positive judgment. based on knowledge
and investigation.
May Divide Strength.
"The continuance of the present situ-
alton may divide the progressive
strength In the very States that are
most surely to be relied upon for votes
against Taft's denomination, and enable
him to control them by plurality. That
Is the best that can happen for him.
do not believe Roosevelt wants Taft
think there Is no doubt
he Is earnestly opposed to Taft, and
would rather see La Toilette or almost
The speaker did not 60 so far as
to express the opinion that Colonel
Roosevelt would finally be taken defi-
nitely out Of consideration. He did
nov however; .s express press. the opinion that
welt people ought to pursue unless
they could induce their candidate to
make frank. public avoval Of his
aspiration, and an open figh. for dele
Under the analysis Of this progress
sive leader. the situation appears
about thus:
II Colonel Roosevelt remains in the
consideration he will get some OF the
far Western States: he will divide the
Prarie States progressive vote with
Senator La Toilette. and greatly i'm
prove the Taft chance Of winning
will get the East and South. and be
nominated.
Entitled to Try.
There Is no longer doubt that the La
Toilette organization Is considered d.
vided as to the policy that ought to be
pursued. But La Toilette himself Is re-
garded by the element most devoted to
his fortunes as entitled to q try, and as
certain to have II anyhow. They say
he will never retire In favor OF any man
who Is not an avowed candidate; and
tz t1A kok ~
man takes this position he will have a
strong backing among the progressive
leaders.
Another Western progressive. who,
likewise. has committed himself to the
on the Views already quoted:
II do not believe that In the middle
Western States La Toilette can beat
Roosevelt, provided the situation goes
on as now. ! am for La Toilette, but II
as now. without an avowal OF candidacy
from him, Roosevelt will carry North
Dakota against both Taft and La Fol-
lette. The division. Of progressive
nesota. South Dakota. Iowa. and Kan
sas to Taft. in my opinion.
Serious Uncertainty.
Whether La Toilette ought to re-
main In the race is the subject Of SER
ious uncertainty among his friends. 1
was one who wanted Roosevelt because
I regarded him as the more available.
But he could not be had, and La Fol-
lette was willing to make the fight
when 1t looked hopeless. Now / shall
stay by him as long as he asks me to.
But assume that the majority of
progressives will stampede to Roose-
Welt.
Every delegate La Toilette gets will
be delivered to Roosevelt, IL in the end
II proves that La Toilette cannot win
and that Roosevelt can. I don't think
Taft can get a single mid-Western
State in a square fight with either
La Toilette or Roosevelt; but with
forces divided, Taft may win."
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