Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-01-31

Il
circumstances am / criticising any Of
his friends who desire to see him noml'
mated. There is not one Of them who
would support him more enthusiastically
than i. and had he consented at the be-
ginning that the fight should be made 10
his name Senator La Toilette would not
have been IN the race.
REGRETS the Division.
l deeply regret that there should DE
any division in our ranks in Nebraska
believe # is a serious mistake. As I un-
derstand your position it is not that you
Rave anything against Senator La Fol-
lette or that you are opposed TO him in
any way. but that you think he cannot
be nominated and that Colonel Roose-
welt can. / have no doubt Of your sin
cerity. and l do not want to be under
stood as Qquestioning your motives in
the least, but assuming this 10 be the
true condition, does 1t not seem TO you
as though II would be better, even from
youh standpoint, that Roosevelt's friends
in Nebraska should support the La Fol-
lette delegates in our coming contest? l
think the position OF Senator la Fol-
lette's friends would appeal TO you. You
must surely see from the condition as
narrated that Senator La FoIlette's
friends ought not be asked to withdraw
his name now, after the wonderful prog
ress that has been made under his lead
ership in this contest. and II your posi-
ton be true we are conceding to you all
ton exists which you say will be shown
to exist later. then the La Toilette dele
gates shall support Colonel Roosevelt.
I am confident that Senator La Toilette
embodies the elements OF constructive
craftsmanship to a degree not surpassed
BY any other public man. The history of
his life viii show that he has always
consistently. conscientiously and with
great ability stood and fought for the
principles that are nearest and dearest TO
the great body of citizenship, and that
during his entire public life he has been
bitterly assailed and opposed by political
bosses, machine msnlpulators and repre-
sentatives of special interests. He en-
bodies In his life and in his work all
that we stand for as progressive repub-
licans. He would make a leader who In
my Judgment would DO invincibe. 1t is
true he would be opposed by political
bosses In both parties. but the rank and
aid by the million. He would make
president who would be perfectly safe
under whose administration no honest
business. no honest citizen, would have
cause for alarm or fear,
While you state In your letter that me-
answer would be considered as conflden-
tlal II | SO desired II, yet have no objec-
ton whatever to the publication Of all
that I have said. Very truly yours
...-. ... G. W. NORRIS.
Colonel Ycisrr's Reply.
To this letter Colonel Yeiser makes
the following reply:
OMAHA, Neb.. Jan. 20 lsi2.-Eon.
George W. Norris. Washington. %. c.
Dear sir: Your letter of January q re-
ceived. | regret the position you have
taken. Your friends In this state, who
are ardent admirers Of Colonel Roosevelt.
desired you as a delegate-at-large regard
less Of the fact that you had supported
La Toilette. because they felt that under
the preferential vote you would be salts
factory TO the friends OF both, I was
greatly pleased to learn Of this feeling
and wrote you hoping to receive fav-
o,.kf. anau,,r xrl,koh x.yn,,l1 enable ,.ou 10
become the recipient Of the combined
Roosevelt and Ia Felletie- strength. !
thought this would be a. fostunate posi-
ton. for you In contradistlnction to your
opponent who was In Indiana trying TO
renomlnate the man We believe should
rot be renomlnsted. But we all do not
see alike.
Compliments and Celoneis.
II am sorry tina. you feel hurt because
Colonel Roosevelt would not consent 70
be candidate when the few gentlemen
you refer to extended the Invitation to
him. We have all received that same
courteous dselination which Shove
genuine reluctance to become a eandi-
date But we were conscious that We
are only a small part OF the people and
have little more 10 offer than that notori-
GUS character OF the Bible who made
famous offer to our Saviour, We are
honest and persistent however, in our
desire to capture this nomination. so that
when we are ready TO take up this trans
action with the colonel again II will be
bona fide offer and not a spectral
affair. The colonel should not be cr1ti-
eised because he had the tact and good
manners TO suggest that some of you
gentleman run for the office Good man
ners would suggest that he compliment
you in the same degree that you eompli-