The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-01
COLONEL DENIES
ATTACKING TAFT
Roosevelt Holly Declares News.
paper Reports False.

Il
alton in New England was canvassed
at length by Colonel Roosevelt and
the men who are leading the Roosevelt
movement in the Northeastern states.
Governor Robert Bass of New Hamp
shire; Fred P. Hale of Portland, Me-,
son of the former United States SEN
stor, and score of other men active
In politics attended a conference at
the home of Grafton D. Gushing, speak.
or of the Massachusetts house.
70 After Colonel Roosevelt had re-
ceived reports of the probable lineup
of New England's lightweight dele
gates to the Chicago convention he put
politics aside for the time and went
to Cambridge to talk literature with
the learned men of Harvard.
1t developed that the Roosevelt
movement is at present without ma
tional leader to take active personal
charge. Those who have consulted
with Colonel Roosevelt since he de-
clared his readiness to accept the
nomination say that he has stated that
he cannot take personal charge of the
movement. Colonel Roosevelt said
that it was his present intention TO
return home and spend as much OF his
time as possible at Oyster Bay, with
occasional visits to his editorial Office
In New York
Colonel Roosevelt was asked as to
the truth of a report that Senator
Dixon of Montana would be the man
at the helm. He replied that Senator
Dixon would be acceptable to him and
that. it had been expected the senator
would take charge. Illness in his fam
lily, however, had made it necessary.
Colonel Roosevelt said, for the senator
10 abandon this plan for an indefinite
period. Several other names were
suggested to the colonel, but he said
that no decision had been reached and
that he had no idea as to who would
be selected.
- Denies Attacking President.
Reports published that he had made
an attack upon President Taft brought
forth a heated denial from Colonel
Roosevelt, who declared that they
were unequivocally false. He also
issued statement, In which he de-
fined the platform upon which he will
make his fight, in which he pointed to
his recent speeches as the best eY.
pressions of his opinions.
Colonel ROOsevelt's visit to Harvard
was not entirely peaceful. Since the
moment of his arrival in Boston last
Saturday he has been followed about
by taxicabs filed with reporters and
photographers, whenever his pursu.
ers were able to keep track of his
movements. The pursuit led to two
clubs at Harvard. Once the colonel
walked up to pursuing automobile.
opened the door and said that he did
not wish to be followed, as his visit
to Harvard was of a purely social ma
ture. But the taxicab still pursued
him.
Then the colonel became angry. As
he alighted from the motor car at the
Hasty Pudding club the camera men
were driven up and aimed their ma
chimes at him. The colonel waved his
arms in protest, but it was useless.
Again he went to the automobile and
demanded that the pursuit stop. He
was met with polite but firm refusal.
The colonel turned sharply about and
lied into the clubhouse.
YES" he confessed later, 81 was
angry, 1t isn't right. My picture has
been taken several thousand times
since / came to Boston and haven't
even changed my hat"
Colonel Roosevelt took luncheon
with his son Kermit and some of his
friends, talked books and came back
TO Boston.