New-York tribune., 1912-02-23
MR.. ROOSEVELT SILENT
.:QN HAT IN THE RING"
Declines to Deny or Affirm Re-
port as to Statement Made
in Cleveland.
FRIENDS READY FOR ACTION
Expect His Answer to Governors
to Say He Will Accept Nomi-
nation-Will Proceed to
S ~ Open Headquarters.

Ihkodore Roosevelt, who at Cleveland on
wednesday night while returning from
edarjt1ating his political platform at the
ohio Constitutional Convention, in Colum-
his Ohio. told a friend: My hat is in the
ring" spent quiet day In this city yes
,erday. II was preparatory TO renewal OF
activities next week, following the publica-
tiop Of his answer TO the Western Gov
ernors. which It is believed will be on Mon
day. In that letter. his friends say. he
will declare that he is not a candidate for
the Presidential nomination, Will not be
candidate. but that he is in the hands of
his friends and will accept a nomination
n IL comes 10 him.
That will be enough for his friends 10
ycdouble their energies for him. 1t was said
last might that Roosevelt headquarters
would be opened here next week. probably
in the Metropolitan Building.
When Mr.. Roosevelt arrived at the Grand
Central Station, soon after noon yesterday
his train having been held UP by storms in
The West, the reporters tried to get him TO
affirm or deny the story that he had told a
friend his hat was 'in the ring
II have nothing TO say" he declared sew
sral times. and then showed signs OF dis
Measure that sent the reporters of to more
agreeable topics
.,U-bat sort OF a time did you have?'
asked one
bully! Simply bully was the reply,
with typical Roosevelt smile. Il had
first class time
Your speech seems to have stlrrea thelh
up" declared one of the group
The smile brOadened.
,,,i;And it was mighty good doctrine, too
said Mr.. Roosevelt.
Mr. Roosevelt took taxicab for the
home Of ]. West Roosevelt, his cousin, at
No. 10 East Slst street. After luncheon
he went for an automobile ride with some
members OF the family and in the evening
there was family dinner party. WORD
was given out TO the newspaper men that
he had forgotten politics for the day
Mr.. Roosevelt will be at his office with the
outlook this morning. Tomorrow morn
ing he starts for Boston. where he Is to at
tend a meeting of the overseers OF Har-
ward University. He will not return until
Wednesday. Whom he is 10 see in the
,lasantime he does not say, simply stating
-taa4 his visits will be merely personal So
1sr as is known, he does not intend to
make any speeches.
Progressives were enthusiastic yesterday
over the Columbus speech of Mr.. Roose-
welt.
In nv opinion" said Amos Pnchot, the
speech means that the issue between
Roosevelt and Taft in the coming campaign
will be whether the people or big business
shall run the country. Mr.. Taft has stated
pretty plainly that he cannot trust the
people 10 govern Mr.. Roosevelt says as
plainly that he can. Mr.. Taft has said that
Tho Progressives are 'Geurotics' and that
their views Of government are unsound
Nov, Mr.. Roosevelt comes out fatfooted
for pure democracy and supports each
pr9postion that Mr. Taft has ridculed. BY
bis -sreech Yesterday Mr. Roosevelt has
struck q great blow for the people of this
country He has thrown down the glove
ito the whole reactionary army and an
nounced doctrine for the strengthening OF
the hearts Of men"
Governor Hiram W Johnson OF Cali
fornia, who has been in the city for several
weeks gave out a formal statement, IN
which he said:
Colonel Roosevelt preached the doctrine
of progress and democracy, the doctrine
that has come out of the West so success
fully and is now gripping even the most
hpniEnteO PORTIONS OF tlt ESdSA
In direct opposition TO the recent utter
snces of the President OF distrust and
suspicion Of the people, Mr.. Roosevelt Is
for pure democracy and anew declares his
confidence and trust in our kind OF GOV GOV
crnment and those who compose It, The
issue is thus now made-whether we are
really capable of self-government. The
address Of the colonel is. of course, what
We expected Of the great leader, but 1t
brings cheer to every progressive and every
true American.
william l.. Ward Republican leader Of
Westchcster. who has been doing some
Quiet work for Roosevelt for several weeks,
said he would not talk about the speech.
Il don't want my name in the news
papers all the time" ne said. Every time
my name gots into print lose an order for
bolts"
Mr.. Ward, who is head OF the Russell
Burdsall e. Ward Bolt Company, laughed
Heartily as he spoke. so he probably had
not lost many big orders
-HaF-