The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-16
That's the Way Roose-
welt Feels About Presi-
Dental Race.
CLAIMS MORE THAN
500 DELEG TIES
Colonel Confident That He Will
Receive Nomination on First
Ballot at Chicago-He At
tacks Taft for Using
Brownsville Affair
Against Him.

Dayton. O.. May lin the opinion
of Theodore Roosevelt. the campaign
for the Republican nomination for
President has now been decided. He
dictated this statement tonight:
Tho number of delegates necessary
to nominate is 539. or the delegates
already elected. without counting the
contested delegates. / have moro than
500. or the delegates yet to be elect
I'D am confident will receive enough
to insure my nomination on the first
ballot"
Colonel Roosevelts claim was based
upon table OF delegates prepared by
his secretary. The table. he added.
did not take into consideration the
chances OF obtaining delegates from
ohio or New Jersey.
In speaking at Kenton. Colonel
Roosevelt said: 'Of uncontested dele
have considera BILE majority over Mr..
Taft. On the present showing It
would he Impossible to say how many
unfairly and improperly seated dele
gates there are who have no possible
claim to sit in the Convention.
Colonel Roosevelt began the second
day of his Ohio campaign In Elyria,
and ended it at Dayton tonight. lie
delivered fifteen speeches during the
dag TO crowds OF large size.
In his address at Springfield. Col.
Roosevelt criticized President Taft.
- certain Lor!mer. Congressman
from Illinois" said he. who is sup
porting Or. Taft as his chief. Senator
Lrimer. did. has come into Ohio.
bringing a number OF members Of the
two companies OF the colored regiment
az, (.
OF the riot at Brownsville. These mon
are brought here by the Taft mana gers
to assail me for what i did at Browns
willie. To Try TO get our colored fell
ow-citizcns to vote against me.
Nothing to Take Bnck.
II did take the action at Browns
VILE and my Judgment has been rat!-
fled over and over again By every COM
pctent man who investigated the mat
ter--by tribunal after tribunal. l am
not taking back by one fingers breadth
any action Of mine. II l should lose
every delegate in every State in the
Union BY taking 1t. 1 would take that
action over again"
Colonel Roosevelt declared that the
Taft managers. at a time when Mr.
TAFT is in the State himself. without
one word OF protest from him. are
trying 10 use that incident to my dis
credit and 10 his advantage. Now
acted on the recommendation of Mi
Taft when he was my Secretary o:
War"
Colonel Roosevelt then read an ex-
tract from the annual report OF the
Secretary OF War for 1906. in which
reference was made to the Brownsville
affair.
There is Mr. Taft's own report. upon
which acted he continued. I do
not shift any responsibility upon Mr..
Taft. take Il all But Mr.. Taft
should be responsible for his action.
too. Mr. Taft recommended to me, as
j have read 10 you from his report
that these men should be dismissed for
a he!nous crime. Does Mr.. Taft nov
say that when he made that report to
me and submitted II to Congress he
said what was not true? If he says
So let him give his reasons for his
change. More than that. he has fox
three years been President. and he
could have reinstated every man OF
that regiment If he thought that the
action | took on his recommendation
was wrong. Mr.. Taft. in my judg-
ment. cannot and will not afrirm tina,
his action then taken was not proper"
In several OF his speeches Colonel
Roosevelt charged that he was being
opposed in his campaign by Democrat Is
as we'll as by members Of his own
party.
Colonel Roosevelt said to-day that
Comptroller William Prendergast, OF
New York. would make the nominat,nC
speech for him at the Chicago conven-
ton.