Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-07
NO MAN OWES
NE GRATITUDE
SAYS COLONEL

From Sense OF Duty IN
Supporting Stimson as He
is Acting Now.
Mineola, L. l., March 6.-secretary
Stimson's speech in Chicago last night
supporting President Taft for the re-
publican nomination brought from Col,
Roosevelt today tart reply.
I'm regard to Mr.. Stimson's state.
ment that against my original inten-
ton am being forced by certain per.
sons into the arena this year, need
merely say" declared Col. Roosevelt,
that the statement is correct only
in the sense that it would be correct
to make the statement as to my ad-
vocacy of Mr.. Stimson for governor
in 1910. In that contest, as in this, !
was exceedingly reluctant to be drawn
into the contest. In that contest as
in this, l acted only from sense OF
duty to the people as whole, and in
that contest I was assailed with pre-
great majority of those who are now
assailing me.
IF had considered only my own
personal interests and personal pref
crence, should, of course, have kept
out of the 1910 campaign, have let the
machine remain in control of Sara
toga and seen the state go democratic
by 100000 majority, as under those
circumstances 1t certainly would have
gone. I went in because I conscien-
tiously felt that it was my duty to
take my part in the fight for honest
for genuine self govern
ment by the people, without regard to
the consequences to myself; and am
in this fight on precisely the same
basis and for practically the same rea-
sons.
Says No One Owes Him Gratitude.
'.Let mes add, in view Of the ques-
tions of certain friends, that neither
ME Stiana0n NOR any other man whom
I have supported for public office
owes me any gratitude for doing so.
support man, not to get his graft
tude, but because, I believe he will
render good service to the people and
I ask nothing from any man in re-
turn except that he render such serv-
ices to the people, and Judge him &C
cordingly.
"As for the question concerning who
are forcing me into the arena, the
answer is easy.
which side is making the demand
for open primaries, and which side Is
sitting this demand wherever possible
to, accede to 1t save until COM
pulsionj and trusting to the use OF pat
ronage, to such methods as those tried
in the recent congressional convention
at Excelsior Springs. Mo-, and to those
very machine gears who have turned a
complete somersault as regards the
president during the last four years?
Sees Opponents as Party Wreckers.
These leaders are managing the
against me; and If they were
deliberately trying to wreck the re-
publican party they would follow pre-
cisely the tactics they have been fol-
which make it seem
that the. would rather see the repub-
ican party defeated than see it restor-
I'd 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
deals of social and industrial Justice to
be achieved through popular rule.
I'VE stand for direct presidential
preferential primaries everywhere. In
in Illinois, in New
York for in New York the present
primary law passed by the machine Of
he two parties is expressly designed to
prevent either party from escaping the
control Of the, professional politicians
and from falling under the control OF
he people) If our opponents wish the
people to have their say. let them sup
port real primary bills. 55E
IF in open primaries without coer
ion or fraud, without pressure brought
~ the use of patronage, the plain peo-
Die Of the republican party declare that
hey do not.wish me to be nominated.
hen most certainly I do not wish the
if they declare that they
10 wish me, not in my interest, but in
he interest of the people as q whole,
hen, as have already said, will ac-
'ept and will strive to serve the people
With all Of whatever powers possess"