The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-02-26
ROOSEVELT WON'T
REFUSE IF It IS
OFFERED HIM
Makes Clear His Position As to
Nomination
STATEMENT Is VERY BRIEF
Believes That People Should Decide
and That His Personal Prefer
ences Do Not Figure
STATEMENT is VERY BRIEF

New York, Feb. 26.-I will accept
the nomination for president If it is
rendered me, and | will adhere to this
decision until the convention has ex.
pressed its preference" is Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelts reply to the letter
of seven republican governors asking
him to stand for nomination. The
eagerly awaited reply was given out
last night at Col. Roosevelt's offices
during his absence on trip to Bos-
ton. 1t was Unexpectedly brief but
very definite. 1t was dated the Gath,
from New York, as follows:--
Gentlemen: deeply appreciate
your letter, and | realize to the full
the heavy responsibility it puts upon
me, expressing as it does. the care
fully considered convictions of the
men elected by popular vote to stand
as the head of government in their
several states.
81 absolutely agree with you that
this matter is not one to be decided
with any reference to the personal
preferences or interests of any man,
but purely from the standpoint of the
| interests of the people as whole. |
will accept the nomination for presi-
dent If 1t is rendered to me, and | will
adhere to this decision until the con-
vention has expressed its preference.
One of the chief principles for which
| have stood and for which / now
stand, and which l have always en-
1 deavored and always shall endeavor
to reduce to action, is the genuine
rule of the people; and therefore
hope that so far as possible, the peo-
pie may be given the chance, through
direct primaries, to express their pre-
ference as to who shall be the nomi-
nee of the republican presidential
convention. Very truly yours,
Theodore Roosevelt"
Cows. William Il. Glasscock OF
West Virginia, Chester II. Aldrich OF
Nebraska, Herbert p. Bass of New
Hampshire, Joseph NJ Carey of Wy
oming, Chase S. Osborn of Michigan
w. r. Stubs of Kansas and Herbert
S. Hadley of Missouri, to whom the
letter is addressed, assembled at Chi
cago two weeks ago and drafted a
letter to Col. Roosevelt asserting that
there was a popular demand that he
be president again, and urging him
to declare himself as to whether he
would accept the republican nomina
ton II 1T came unsolicited and un
sought" For two weeks Col Roose
vent considered the letter, indicating
plainly that he had no intention OF
making q hasty reply. The COVER
nors' letter, dated Chicago, the 10th
follows:
We, the undersigned republican
governors, assembled for the purpose
of considering what will best insure
the continuation of the republican
party as a useful agency Of good gov
eminent, declare it our belief, after
a careful investigation of the facts
that q large majority of the republi
can voters of the country favor your
nomination, and large majority Of
the people favor your election, as the
next president of the United States.
I'VE believe that your candidacy
will insure success to the next cam
paign We believe that you represent
as no other man represents, those
principles and policies upon which
we must appeal. for a majority of the
votes of the American people, ant
which, in our opinion, are necessary
for the happiness and prosperity Of
the country.
1--WE believe that in view OF this
public demand you should soon de
clare whether, II the nomination fol
the presidency come to you unsolicit
ed and unsought, you will accept IL.
'ln submitting this request we are
not considering your personal inter
ests. We do not regard II as proper
TO consider either the interests Of
the preference of any man as regards
the nomination for the presidency
We are expressing our sincere belle
and best judgment as to what is de
handed of you in the interests OF tn,
people as whole. And we feel tina
you would be unresponsive to a plail
public duty II you should decline (,
accept the nomination, coming as tn,
voluntary expression of the wishes o
a majority of the republican voters o
the United States. through the actor
Of their delegates in the next nation
al convention"
Efforts by Col. Roosevelt's friends
to induce him to make an earlier de
olaration OF his attitude on the presl
Dental question had been unavailing
His laconic and characteristic remarl
to a friend in Cleveland last wednes
day night, "My hat is in the ring
you will have my answer Monday.
was the first actual indication that h.
had In mind an affirmative answer 4
the governors letter. Upon promis
that the reply would be given out las
night a small army OF newspaper mel
gathered at the colonels offices earl
In the evening, Secretary Frank Hal
per met the reporters punctually an
gave out the correspondence withou
comment. He said he was in no DC
sition to comment, and owing to IN
coloners absence in Boston, where h
will spend several days, Il was impoi
sible to obtain an elaboration Of tn