Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-03
SAYS ROOSEVELT
WON'T DECLINE
Abbott Declares He viii Accept
Nomination II Offered.
GIVES HIS VIEWS IN LETTER
Editor Of 1.-THE Outlook" is Sure the
Colonel Would Accept Nomination az
He Wouls Enlist For Wa.

Colonel Would Accept Nomination az
He Woul1 Enlist For Wa.
That Colonel Theodore Roosevelt
would no more decline TO take the
nomination for president than he
would decline to enlist. " needed. In
time OF war Is the opinion Of Lawrence
r. Abbott. one OF the editors OF The
Outlook.
This belief IL expressed In letter
received in Trenton. y. j.. by former
Governor Edward c. Stokes.
The letter received by Mr.. Stokes
follows a visit he made to The Outlook
office last week, when he had an inter.
view with Colonel Roosevelt. Mr..
Stokes suggested that the former pres.
ident write letter. or have one writ.
ten. defining his position relative to
the presidency.
The letter from Mr.. Abbott follows:
My Dear Governor--ln answer to
your letter in which you ask me. as
one of Mr. Roosevelt's associates.
whether he would ACCEPT the nomina
ton for the presidency. | can state my
views OF the situation in few words
have no authority 10 speak for him.
and what ! say is my own individual
opinion.
But | have had some exceptional
opportunities during the last two years
not only to learn his political princi.
pies but to see at times the intimate
al % 1t \ ha1taun
clearly understand his attitude with
regard 20 the discussion OF his name
as IA presidential possibility.
"If Mr.. Roosevelt Is ever elected
president again II will not he because
he seeks or wants the Office: t will he
because the country wants him In the
Office to perform a certain job. He has
had all the political and Official honor
that any man can possibly want.
"Iie accepted nomination for the
vice presidency in 1900 when such a
nomination was Thought to be eqniva-
lent to political oblivion. and although
he wanted to run again for governor
of The state of New York in order To
complete some important work in that
Office But his friends told him that II
was his duty to sacrifice himself in
order TO strengthen Mr. Mckinley's
nomination and the campaign for
sound money and national financial
honor.
He accepted the nomination on that
ground. although at the time both his
friends and his enemies said that 1t
would mean the end Of his political ca
reer II did not end his career. how
ever, for In 1904 he was nominated
practically without opposition and was
elected by an overwhelming majority.
II am convinced that he does not
desire tho nomination and will enter
no contest TO obtain II, bat am
equally convinced that Il his country.
men have still further need Of his SER
vices as their chief executive he will
no more decline their call than he
decline to enlist. If needed in time OF
war. ii is, however. Tor his party and
his country ana for him 10 decide the
question. II they decide to nominate
him | am sure he will accept; II they
elect him ! am sure he will serve.
Il base my opinion upoL his own
words. In the 18th OF June. 1910. when
he arrived in New York on his return
from Africa. he replied to Mayor Gay
nor's address of welcome as follows:
~ am ready and eager To do my
part. so far as am able. In helping
solve problems which must be solved
II we. of this greatest democratic re-
public upon which the sun has ever
shown. are 10 see it's dcstinies rise to
the high level of our hope and its OPP
portunities.
This is the duty OF every citizen.
but II is peculiarly my duty; for any
uan who has ever been honored by
being president of the United States 10
thereby forever after rendered debtor
OF the American people. and IS bound
there throughout his life 10 remember
this as his prime obligation. and. in
private life. as much as III public life.
SO to carry himself that the American
people may never have cause TO feel
regret that once they placed him az
their head ."