The Washington herald., 1912-06-08
T.R. GOMPLAGENT
At HIS LOSSES
Colonel Declsrss that His Managers
VIII Take Care Of All
Contest Cases.
WILL NOT GO TO CHICAGO
UNTIL NOMINATING BEGINS
Counssled to Stay Away Until Time
Is Ripe for Attempting to
Stampede Convention.

oyster Bay, n. Y. June 1T told my
leaders before they went to chieago that
1 didn't expect any delegate contest to
be decided for me that 1 was not en-
titled TO. I am leaving all the details to
them.''
That was COL Roosevelt's complseent
comment tonight in discussing the out
come Of the FIRST delegate contests de-
cIded by the National Committee to-day
against him. Apparently, the former
President suffered no shock over the
news that his own committeeman had
voted with the Taft alignment.
The colonel took out q list Of dele
rates, which showed twenty-five Ala
bama delegates put down for Tan and
two for himself. He pointed to the two
in his own list, remarking, as though II
were a matter Of no concern:
I'VE did not expect any more than
those two; that is, those were all We.
absolutely counted on. The tWOg we
have set -Gpart they haven't acted on
yet They come from one district that
I am told went for uG"
The colonel went out OF his way TO
explain that he knew nothing OF the
merits Of the controversy over the Ala
bama delegates-at-large. He merely was
aware that the Roosevelt leaders were
fighting over them, but that was all.
Likely to Keep out of FIEht.
While he was talking the former PreSi-
dent conveyed a distinct impression that
he intends to keep out OF the turmoil OF
the delegate disputes and to let his
grIm-visaged warriors in Chicago do the
work. In the meantime Roosevelt Is in
touch with such campaign wheelhorses as
Gov. Stubs, OF Kansas, and Gov. john
son, Of California, who at the drop az
the flag, are ready TO storm Chicago and
swing into the fight with all their West
ern belligerency
Those in Roosevelt's confidence do not
expect him to go to Chicago until the
convention, no matter what comes up IN
the delegate contests. With a telephone
wire, leading into the Chicago head
quarters at his elbow and telegraph
wire TO use when he is tired Of listening
over the phone, the former President is
close enough to the seat OF war for the
present
What his managers have counted on, as
a last resort is Roosevelt stampeding the
convention, and they calculate that he
would destroy this opportunity II he
shows himself in Chicago in advance OF
the convention. Senator Dixon has ad-
vised against It and so have others OF
the former Presidents leading men
The colonel varies his reply every time
he is asked about going to Chicago.
May Not Go to Chicago.
II don't know that l am to 60" he
unused to-day when the vexed question
was put to him Nothing has happened
to make me think 1 ought to. Maybe
I won't go at all.
In Chicago they say you are to ap-
pear there next Wednesday" was ven
tured
''Don't know about that at ALL" was
the playful response. ''NObody's told
me anything about it. Don't think there
is any foundation for the rumOr."
The news from Chicago that the Taft
managers will attempt TO apply the
chariot wheel rule to the convention
as used in 1880, TO bind the delegates not
to bolt caused Roosevelt to remark that
he feared nothing from any such etort.
IF they act honestly" observed the
colonel. with a half-sneer. there will be
no occasion for any one to bolt
Instantly there arose visions Of Roose-
welt bolting, but the former President
would be drawn into no discussion OF It.
Sees Many visitors.
The colonel motored to his New York
offce and found a hundred anxious Wis
itors, not half of whom he was able to
see.
Prof. Samuel McCune Lindsay, Of Co
Iumbia University; Homer Folks. Of the
States Charities Aid Association, and
John Kingsbury, OF the Society for I'M
proving the Condition OF the Poor, got the
coloners ear long enough to suggest some
concrete points for the progressive plat
form in the event he wins at Chicago.
They handed out typewriter memoranda
later, stating that the plank they want
appertains to the coloners ideas of social
and industrial justice.
They want a national health service,
workmenG compensation laws, comis-
sions for inquiring into the high cost Of
living, and better organization Of the
governmental bureaus.
Asked II he would incorporate the COM
mittee's suggestions in his platform,
Roosevelt replied, with a knowing smile:
why we haven't got down to nomi-
mating our candidate yet The platform