Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-02-29
I. RS. new POLICIES.
HE DOES NOT SAY WHETHER OR
NOT HE WOULD ACCEPT
THE NOMINATION..
SPEAKS IN COLUMBUS, ..
Addressing the Members Of Ohio Con.
stitutional Convention, the Colonel
Sets Forth His Progressive
Ideas and Answers Harmon.

Columbus, Ohio. - Col. Roosevelt
came to Columbus and delivered a
characteristic address before the men,
bers of the constitutional convention
in the state house. He set forth in
detail his revised progressive poll
cies, but, to the disappointment of
many of his hearers, he adhered to
his announced plan and did not say
whether or not he would accept the
Republican nomination for president
it if were offered him.
Once or twice. however, he paused
impressively and then said things
that caused his supporters to emit
joyful whoops, for these sentences
seemed to be clear limitations that
if the Republican convention in Chi
caso insisted on placing his name at
the head of the ticket his sense of
public duty would not permit him to
reject the honor.
Indeed, in broad sense, the col
onel's speech was entirely non-parti-
san for the principles of government
he advocated have earnest supporters
in all parties. The constitutional con-
vention is a non-partisan body and
the applause that greeted most of Mr..
Roosevelts emphatic utterances was
general.
Makes Reply to Harmon.
Colonel Roosevelt had said pre-
viously that he would not reply to the
letter of the governors who urged
his candidacy until after this Column
bus visit. and so in his public utter
ances here he virtually ignored that
incident. But he did answer the at
tack on the initiative and referendum
recently made by Governor Harmon
His position regarding that policy
long has been well known and that
position he defended vigorously. 81.
and R." has large number of advo-
Gates in the constitutional convention
and they. as we'll as the political adj
versaries of the governor, gave this
part of the colonel's address their
noisy approval.
Great Throng at Station.
When Colonel Roosevelt's train
pulled into the Union station shortly
before II o'clock this morning the
station and the streets outside were
so thronged that the special details
of police had their hands more than
full
AS the ex-president alighted from
the car mighty shout of greeting
made the Orders Of the station ring.
He was met by the bipartisan COM
mittee of the convention, comprised
of Walter F. Brown, of Toledo, John
D. Fackler of Cleveland and Ebert
L. Lampson of Ashtabula county, Re-
publicans, and Richard A. Beattie of
Wood and F. c. Leete of Lawrence,
Democrats. With them was Mr..
Roosevelt's intimate personal friend.
DR.. Washington GLADDEN..
Address Before Convention.
The party drove at once up High
street between solid wslis CT human.
ity and the colonel was kept busy
responding to the cheers, showing his
evident pleasure in his famous smile.
He was taken direct to the state
house, where he was formally greeted
by Herbert S. Bigelow, president of
the constitutional convention. who
escorted him to the platform and
introduced him to the big assemblage.
Mr.. Roosevelt began his address
directly the applause subsidized and
spoke for about three-quarters of an
hour, holding very closely to the text
of his prepared speech. AS is usually
the case with the colonel, the address
sounded spontaneous and at times a
bit startling, but was carefully con-
sidered.