The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1912-01-03
La TOILETTE Is
ASKING "SHALL
| QUIT RACE?"
Senator Seriously Considers
Withdrawal in Favor of
Theodore Roosevelt
Wisconsin Campaigner Desires
to Unite Opposition to
Defeat Taft
Public Announcement of Retire.
ment Likely Within Next
Three Days


There is report here tonight
that Senator LaFollette is seri-
- ously considering withdrawing
as a candidate for president in favor of
Theodore Roosevelt.
The Wisconsin man has consulted
some of his intimate friends on the
subject and they say that he is likely
to make public announcement of his
retirement, stating the reasons, within
% the next two or three days. On the
other hand, some of the senator's
friends are strongly opposing his with
drawa1.
Senator La Toilette. it is said, is con-
WINGED that the progressive repubh-
cans could be united on Roosevelt; that
they can not be united on any other
fnan. and the only way to beat Taft Is
to. unite the opposition. He. therefore
has arrived at the point of sacrificing
himself solely to beat Taft
Senator WithhoIds Comment
Senator La Toilette tonight refused TO
discuss the remarks made by Governor
Osborn in Lansing today.
o "I discuss issues. not men," he said.
.I have no comment to make"
"Will you pardon me-" he was asked.
sif I ask what you have to say to the
governors proposal that both you and
President Taft withdraw from the
racer
La Toilette merely waved his hand.
saying: AIn pardon you"
Mistake Made i'm Trains
DETROIT, Jan. 2.--To a Saginaw
"cabbie~ is assigned the blame for
United States Senator La Foliette's in
ability to carry out his engagements to
speak today at Lansing and Owosso.
The driver took the progressive" pres
identiaI candidate to the wrong depot.
The wisconsin intended leaving Sag
inaw for Owosso over the Grand Trunk
railroad. but by mistake he was driven
TO the Pere Marquette depot There he
boarded a southbound train without a
ticket, it is said. which prevented the
depot employees from discovering and
rectifying the error. He wes well on
his way toward Detroit before 1t be-
came known that he was on the wrong
train.
Members of the senator's party were
waiting impatiently at the Grand Trunk
station and gaveup hope of being Joined
by their chief only when they saw the
train depart.
arrangements were made to effect
reunion of the party at Holly, but when
all was ready for revised program for
the day to be announced it was found
that the train schedules would not per-
NIT the senator to visit Owosso and the
state capital It then was decided that
he would go direct to Grand Rapids for
a meeting this evening and close his
present Michigan tour at Kalamazoo to-
morrow morning.
Opposition of Governor
LANSING. Mich, jan 2.-Governor
Chase Osborn today took charge OF q
meeting of progressive republicans that
/. had gathered to hear Senator Robert
NJ La Toilette. who failed to appear,
and delivered an address that he had
prepared to introduce the senator,
thereby causing an outburst of COM
pIaint from some of the auditors. who
objected to the uncomplimentary re-
marks of the governor IN referring
TO La Toilette
The governor said that, as between
Taft and La Toilette. he preferred
Taft as the presidential nominee. but
asked that both Taft and La Toilette
withdraw from the race and join in
nominating former Senator A. ]. Bev-
eridge of Indiana or former President
Roosevelt.
When the governor adversely criti-
cized some of La Follette's acts and
dubbed him a politician who looked out
for himself primarily, some of those In
the audience yelled out that Osborn had
no right to make such remarks in q
hall rented by supporters of the Wis
consin senator.
Offers to Pay for Hall
We'll, what did you people expect
when you asked me to preside?" asked
the governor with emphasis. You
knew where stood. Did you think I
would allow you to censsr my remarks?
am more sorry than you that the
senator is not here, but am more than
glad to pay for the hail. il that makes
any difference to you"
Secretary Hannah of La Follette's
stan called up the Masonic temple.
where the crowd has assembled. shortly
after 2 o'clock and asked that II be an
nounced that the senator would not ap-
pear. When this word was carried to
Governor Osborn he proceeded to the
platform aIone and after stating that
the senator would not be present ex-