The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-06
ROOSEVELTDENIES
BREAKING PROMISE
IN ENTERING RACE
FOR PRESIDENCY
Makes Public Letter Written to
Publisher Munsey, Setting
Forth Views.

NEW YORK, March 5.-To clear up
connicting statements as to what he
said In the past in regard TO the pres
ioentlaI nomination. Colonel Roose-
velt to-day made public a letter which
ne wrote last January 16, 1912. 70
Frank a Munsey. the publisher. Colo
mel hoosevelts object in giving out
the communication. he said. was to
refute the charge that he was break.
ing a promise in agreeing to accept
the nomination II IL were offered 10
him. He called particular attention
to passage in the letter in which.
while stating that he would not lie a
candidate, he declared that he would
not go on record as being unwilling 10
accept the nomination.
Il every man ] talked to-" said
Colonel Roosevelt. II made, in sub
stance. that same statement. and
made II In literally hundreds OF let.
ters"
Letter TO Mr.. Munsey.
The letter 70 Mr.. Munsey In the In
PRODUCTION was a reiteration Of the
Colonefs declaration TO keep his si
lence. though he agreed with Mr.. Nun.
sey that his silence was furnishing
his enemies foundation TO circulate
false reports and leading others TO be
heve that u would be useless TO at
tempt to nominate him because they
thought he would certainly refuse Ia
run. Then comes the significant por
tion he particularly desired to make
! public. reading as follows:
What ! have said TO you and am
about to say TO you. J have. for in
who mink I ought 20 be nominated,
but 20 friends land even foes1 who
think ] ought not 10 be nominated.
provided only could trust their sim
certify. intelligence and truthfulness
| f0r instance. have said the same
| ming 20 Secretary Stimson. secre-
tary Meyer and Congressman Long
| NJ. fnchot and ConEresHmen Len
root and Kent who sre supporting
"a "a f2llstis ! have said that to sdi-
kenburg and Mr. Wright. I practi-
cally said that 70 the entire Aldina
club-Democrsis. Repubiicans.e every
one
4 am not and shaIf not be a can
dtdats ] shall not seek the nOmi-
nation. nor would ! accept n n ~
ame Z" ne - ne result ~ an In
| triEue. But I viii not tie my hands
| - statement which would make
| Ia difficult or impossible for me 20
serve the public hN undertaking 4
great task N the people ~ = whoIs
seemed definitely 20 come 20 the
conclusion that ! ought 20 10 that
task In other words. as far - In
me lies 7 am endeavoring 20 look a.
this matter purely from the stand
| point 81 the public Interest. % the
| Interest ~ the people a. = whole.
and not IN the least from my own
standpoint
! II should consult only my own
pleasure and interests ] should most
| emphatically ard Immediately an
nounce uat 7 would under no cir
cumatances run I have had All the
honor that any man can have from
/ holding the office ~ President
FROM rvery personal standpoint
there is nothinF for me % Eafn
either IN running for The Office or
/ In holding the Office once more. and
there ls very much % lose
Under such circumstances. ~
consulted only ny own interest the
OBVIOUS thing 20 80 woold he 20 ar
nounce that 7 would not obey anv
popular mandafe. that I would not
| run ~ nominated 7 shaw not foliow
| this course. because 7 am sincerely
sndeavoring % look 81 the matter
only from the standpoint ~ The pop-
L uinf Interest III -
/ this particular crisis. with the par
(Coutinued on uiueh ranal