The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-16
Claim That Roosevelt
Urged La Toilette to
Run Is Proven False
HOuscrs Statement Shown to Be Untrue by Letter From
GasOn Gardner
Roosevelt Really Told La Toilette That La Toilette COuId Not
Possibly Win Out
But W He Was Bound to Enter Losing Fight, Sooner He Be
gan Campaign the Better

Toilette to go into losing fight. This
was the message delivered.
Colonel Roosevelt had said emphati-
cally that he would not take sides as
between candidates or give any cam
didate specific endorsement. IIe
said he would, in the columns of The
Outlook, and otherwise, do what he
could to direct attention to the work
accomplished by Senator LaFoHette in
Wisconsin. Beyond this, he said he
could not go.
Colonel Roosevelt did not promise
that he would not himself become a
candidate. He was very careful at
that and all times to say that he
would not bind himself as to his future
course by any promise or statements.
/ made this clear to Senator LaFol-
lette and the senator TO my own
knowledge knew at all times that Coll
onel Roosevelt regarded him as free
to take any course that he might con-
slider wise. In order to make this
matter perfectly clear to Senator La
Toilette / at one time read him the
following extract from a letter written
by Colonel Roosevelt in November,
1910:
IF we had won in New York,
can now see that would have had
to face the question of accepting the
nomination in 1912 and ii would have
been most painful and most doubt
ful question to decide. Now feel that
shall not have to make such a de-
cision, and I can simply tell everyone
that as circumstances are I feel 1t
unwise and indeed out OF the question
for me to be a candidate. Here I'm
New York as well as in Massachusetts,
and Ohio every effort was made TO get
me TO say that I would not be a can
didats in 1912, and some effort was
made to get me to say that would
support Taft in 1919.
'T utterly refused 10 make either
assertion. told my questioners that
did not think there was one chance
in hundred that it would be neces.
sary for me to become a candidate and
that the one thing most desired was
not to be put in a position where /
would have to become one, but that
would treat the question not the
least from the standpoint OF Taft's
interest. still less in my own interests
but solely from the standpoint Of
the public good, and that therefore.
though thought 1t in the highest de-
gree improbably that it would be nee
essary for me to accept the nominal
ton, yet should not commit myself
so that could not act in any way
that the public need really demanded.
NOW I am convinced that unless
conditions arise which we cannot pos
sibly foresee and OF which there are
at present no indications, 1t will not
be merely improbable, but impossible
for anything to happen which will
make IT necessary for me to accept
the nomination and In fact / think
now that the question win not arise
at ALL"
What He Told LaFoIIetts.
Finally, I told Senator LaFolletts
that Colonel Roosevelt agreed that if
Senator LaFollette proposed TO un-
dertake campaign for the nomina-
ton with the Certain prospect that he
would make a losing fight the sooner
the campaign was begun the better.'s
That was the sum and substance OF
the message which l brought from
Oyster Bay 1t is quite obvious.
therefore. that the message he re-.
ceived at that time did not produce
any immediate effect and that it was
NNN ~AAC SNSAAAAAAtiAlS LaSNOI Tie SEN 4
ator's decision to enter the race.
1T was understood by all Senator
LaFollette's friends that he become
a candidate without serious hope OF
being nominated and for the purpose
of consolidating the progressive move
ment, and making difficult. or inpos-
sible, the denomination OF a reaction
ary president. This purpose he car
ried out. Senator LaFolIette's leader.
ship was successful to a certain point
but as anticipated he was called upoa
to make a sacrifice. He has paid the
penalty in shattered nerves and the
time has come for strong man to
take his place. In normal health. SEN
ator LaFollette would not, / am con-
WINGED, countenanced a charge that
Colonel Roosevelt had ever treated him
In any way not fair. In his present
inability to direct and know what Is
going on it is poor loyalty for his
friends to do what he would certainly
disapprove. Very truly yours.
CSigned) ellison Gardner"
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