The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-05
Taft Says Death Alone Can
Keep Him Out.
ROOSEVELT ALSO IN THE RACE
For First Time President Speaks Plain
ly About Candidacy For Renomina-
ton and Re- -eleotion-Statement
Probably Due to Michigan
Governors Interview.

Washington, Jan. 4.-For the first
time in his occupancy of the White
House and for the first time since Colo
mel Theodore Roosevelt and others in
the Republican party began practically
to doubt his availability for reelection
President Taft spoke plainly and to
the point when he said concerning his
immediate future in presidential poll
tics:
Nothing but death can keep me out
Of the fight now"
The president added that he had no
objection to this statement being made
/ public. The president, ii may be said
was not goaded into making this state
ment. He was in good humor and was
just as kindly and as pleasant as usual
but he evidently felt that in view Of re-
cent rumors and statements, especially
in view of Governor Osborn's sugges
tion that he should retire and not seek
denomination, the time had come
when his exact position should be
made known to the public.
Roosevelt In Race Too.
For the first time. too, Colonel Roose-
velt's position was made known by
personal friends in this city. They de-
clared that Colonel Roosevelt is in the
fight for the nomination and added that
they personally waited on Colonel
Roosevelt several months ago for the
purpose Of asCertaining his wishes in
the matter. They state that they then
declared to Roosevelt that in their
opinion Taft could not be reelected II
renominated. They went over the
ground with Roosevelt, remarking that
the presidents reciprocity measure had
been very injurious to the Republican
party, especially to the farmers in the
states from Maine to California on the
Canadian border. These friends Of
Colonel Roosevelt declared further
that they left the eX-president with as
surances that they could go forward in
their work Of organization on his be-
half; that he would not interfere with
their work, but that they need not ex-
pect from him any positive declaration
as to his own candidacy; that he would
merely sit tight, using one Of the ex-
| presidents favorite expressions. So
| that it may now be stated that the
Roosevelt movement hasn't been a hap
hazard one without direction, without
head or tail, but from the start has
had formation and determined purpose
and moreover that the ex-president has
been fully familiar with what has been
| going on and that he acQuiesced In 1t
and sanctioned it.
Calder Brings News.
Representative Calder has returned
from New York city and was in earnest
conversation with a number of his Re-
| publican congressional brethren in the
/ New York delegation. Representative
Calder has no hesitation in telling his
New York brethren that Colonel Roose-
welt is candidate for the Republican
nomination for president and added
that certain business interests did not
believe that President Taft could be
elected.
1t may be added that these friends
with whom Colonel Roosevelt consult
ed had no hesitation In declaring that
as time progresses sturdy Roosevelt
organizations will be built up in all the
states and that the Roosevelt people
are especially relying upon the states
in which presidential preference pri-
maries are to be held-New Jersey,
Nebraska, North Dakota. Oregon. Tex
as and Wyoming.
1t is well known that certain infiuen.
tial Republicans from a number OF
states have visited Supreme Court Jus,
tice Hughes and discussed his avail
ability. To all OF his visitors Justice
Hughes has made but one answer, the
one so well known to the public that
he could not and would not be candi
date while President Taft was candi
date.