Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06
TartIy Replies to Stimson's
Speech Backing Taft.
SENSE OF DUTY HIS GUIDE
In Race for Same Reason He Sup
ported Secretary in 1910.
NOT BANKING ON GRATITUDE
Contends Only Those Sitting Open
Primaries Are Tending to
Wreck Party.

M1NEOLA, L. l., March 6.-Secretary
Sdmson's speech in Chicago last night
supporting President Taft for the repub-
lican nomination brought from Col.
Roosevelt q tart reply.
In regard to Mr.. Stimson's statement
that against my original intention 1 am
being forced by, certain persons into the
arena this year, need merely say" de-
clared Mr.. Roosevelt, that the statement
Is correct only in the sense that it would
be correct to make the same statement "a
to my advocacy Of Mr.. Stimson for gov
ernor in 1910. In that contest, as in this
l was exceedingly relunctant to be drawn
into the contest. In that contest, as in
this. acted only from a sense OF duty
to the people as q WHOLE and in that
contest was -assailed WITH precisely the
same arguments by the great majority of
those who are now assailing me.
Worth, Not Friendship, Counts.
IF had considered only my own per-
sonal interests and personal preference. I
should. OF course. have kept out Of the
1910 campaign. have let the machine re-
main in control at Saratoga and seen
the state go democratic by 10000 ma
Jortty. as under those circumstances It
certainly would have gone. I went in be-
cause I c0nscientiously felt that 1t was
my duty to take my part In the fight for
honest government, for genuine SELF
government by the people, without re-
gard to the consequences to myself; and
! am in this fight on precisely the same
basis, and for practically the same rea-
sons.
Let me add. in view Of the questions
of certain friends, that neither Mr.. Stim-
son nor any other man whom have sup
ported for public Office owes me any
gratitude for doing so: l support man
not to get his gratitude but because l
people, and ask nothing from the man
In return except that he render such
service to the people. and I judge him
accordingly.
Tending to Wreck Party.
"As for the question concerning Who
are forcing me into the arena@ the an
swer is easy. Which side is making the
demand for open primaries. and which
side Is sitting this demand wherever pos
sible. refusing to accede to it save under
compulsion and trusting to the use of
patronage, to such methods as those tried
in the recent Kansas City congressional
convention, and to those very machine
leaders who have turned a complete
somersault as regards the President dur
ing the last four years?
These leaders are managing the
campaign against me; and II they
were deliberately trying to wreck the
republican party they would follow
precisely the tactics they have been
following tactics which make it seem
that they would rather see the repub-
lican party defeated than see 1t re-
stored to what it was under Lincoln
and see it become again the genuine
party Of the people, the party that
stands for real popular rule, and for
the highest ideals of social and In
dustrial justice. to be achieved through
popular rule.
Wish of People Paramount.
I'VE stand for direct presidential
preferential primaries everywhere, in
Massachusetts,. in Illinois, in New
York (for in New York the preaent