The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-03-07
ROOSEVELT REVIEWS
D|XON'S CHALLENGE
Makes II Part of a Hot Reply to
Secretary Stimson's
Declaration.
COLONEL IN ANGRY MOOD
Doesn't Want Gratitude From Stimson
but Deeply Resents What the
Secretary Said.

OYSTER BAY, l.. l.. March 6.--Jury
duty IL not interfering with the
Colonel's political activity for this
morning while he was waiting to he
called to serve at the Nassau County
Court I'm Mineola he wrote a statement
in which. without mentioning President
Taft by name, he accused the Admins
tration OF using in the fight to prevent
his nomination precisely the same tao
tics that would be used II a deliberate
attempt to wreck the Republican party
rather than see progressive principles
win were intended.
The Colonel seemed we'll pleased with
the world when he drove up to the
court house In his automobile shortly
before 10 o'clock. His smile changed
instantly to a frown when his attention
was called to THE SrN's despatch fyom
Chicago reporting Secretary of War
Stimsons speech, in which the Secre-
tary had said that It would be wiser"
for the American people TO select Taft
rather than Roosevelt and that the
Colonel's friends who are forcing him
contrary to his original intention, into
the arena against Mr.. Taft are leopard
,zing instead OF helping the real cause
Of progress in the nation.
At first Col Roosevelt seemed unable
to believe that Harry Stimson, a. he
always calls him. could have said that.
He retired to the Grand Jury room TO
think II over and read the dispatches
from Chicago and after doing so he re-
considered his first announcement that
he would have nothing to say and, ask
Ing court attendant to get him paper
and pencil. wrote out the following
statement:
las regards Mr.. StImsons state
ment that against my original inten-
tions am being forced by certain per-
sons into the arena this year. | need
merely say that the statement is COR
rect only In the sense that IL would bs
correct Ia make the same statement az
to my advocacy of Mr.. Stimsun TOR
Governor In 1910.
I'm that contest, as in this. | was
exceedingly reluctant to be drawn into
the contest. In that contest. az In
this. / acted only from "A sense OF duty
10 the people as a Whole, and in that
contest WAS assailcd with precisely
the same arguments by the great
ma tority OF those who are now assail
ing me. II had considered only my
own personal interests and personal
preferences | would. Of course. have
u.
let jhe machine remain in control of
Saratoga, and have seen the State 20
Democratic by 800 00o ina Jority AZ uu-
der those circumstances IL certainly
would have gone. | went in o..uause
cunscicntiUusiy felt that IT was my duty
Ia take my part in the fight for honest
government. FOR genuine seif-guy-rn-
, mrnt by the people. without regard To
, The cunseanenc.s Ia myself and Hm, In
, this fight on precisely the same basis
-and FOR precisely tn" same reasons.
Let me add In View OF the lu-s-
tlons Of certain friends that nell her
Mr.. Stimson nor any other man whom
have supported for puhlic offic. owes
me any gratitude Tor doing NJ.
Il support a man hot To get his graft.
tude but because ! believe lie will rem
, der good service tn The people. And |
ask nothing from any man In return
except that he render such services to
the people. And juuge him accord
| ingly.
AS for the question concerning who
, are forcing me into the aienu IN. an.
swc. Is easy. Which Side is making the
demand for open primaries? And
- when side is sitting this demand wh.y-
, ever possible, refusing t. acceue tu Il
. save under Conipuision. ana lrus ding to
the use uf patronage. to such urtnpis
, s,s those tried in The recent Kansas cts
congressional convention. and L" those
1 very inat'ill!r NhutIS WHO nave turned
, complete somcrStult as regards tho
President during the last four years
These leaders are managing The
campaign against ne, ana N they We're
deliberately trying 10 wreck the Re-
publican party they would follow pre-
riseiy the same tactics they have been
following. tactics which make II seem
that they would rather see the Re-
publican party defeated than see II
restored 10 what II WAS under Line oln
and see IL become again the genuine
party uf the people, the party That
stands for real popular rule and for
the highest ideals OF social and indus
: tr!Gl justice. to be achieved through
popular rule
| We stand for direct preside n tlal pre-
. ferenlial primaries everywhere. In
Massa"hrsetts, in Illinois, In New
York. for in New York the present
primary law, passed by the machines
OF the two parties. IL expressly de-
signed to prevent either party from
: escaping the control OF the professional
| politicians and from falling under the
r control Of the people.
, III our opponents wish the people tc
have their say, let them support rea
primary bills.
III In open primaries. without co.
ercion or fraud. without pressure
brought by the use OF patronage or BY
: the promise or by the withholding a:
patronage. the plain people Of the Re.
/. publican party declare that they do MOI
wish me TO be nominated, then mos
certainly do not wish the nomination
I III they declare that they do mo-
wish me to be nominated, then mos
, certainly ] do not wish the nomlna ton
, IL they declare that they do wish me
. not In my interests but in the interes
u Of the people as a whole, then, As
have already said. will accept, and viii
strive to serve the people with all O
whatever powers ! possess"
The Colonel was fighting mad but /
: was plainly to be seen that ne consid
cred stimson one led astray by other
and that he was more grieved THAI