The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-27
ROOSEVELT TALKS
OF HTS DEFEAT


Colonei Roosevelt issued the fol-
lowing complete statement We'd.
neSday afternoon:
The time has come when
tecl that must make certain
statements, not merely to the
honestly elected members of the
national Republican convention,
Dut 10 the rank and file of the
party and the honest peOplc of
the entire nation.
II went into this strife for GER
tam great principles. On behalf
OF these principles L made my
appeals straight TO the people
themselves. L went before them,
made my argument i'm full, and
every one made was I'm the open,
without concealment of any kind.
The opposition to me was eX-
traordinarily bitter, for L was Op-
posed by practically the solid
phaioiN OF the big, constituencies
pOlttcat bosses with back of them
practically the solid phalanX OF
the big, constituencies beneficial
ricS OF these special privileges i'm
every form, and, of course, the
many big newspapers which are
controlled by or conducted i'm the
interests OF the bosses and spe-
cial privilege.
Nevertheless i'm the appeal TO
the people, L won. In many of
the Republican States. and of the
Democratic States where there is a
large and real Republican party,
primaries of different kinds were
held and a substantial expression
OF the Will of the people was OBJ
tanned. In these primary States
some 100000 voters. the rank
and file of the Republican party,
cast their votes; 1 beat Mn Taft
considerably over two TO one. In
these States 1 obtained six dele
gates to Mr.. Taft'S one. Nearly
three-fourths of my delegates
came from the Urinary States
where the people had a chance 10
express themselves.
Mr.. Tafts strength, as indicated by
the roll calls already taken, consist
Ed chlehy, aside from his ninety stolen
uelegateS) OF the nearly solid delega-
tion from the territories and from
the Southern States in which there is
no real Republican party-South
carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
northern states like New York, where
the people had no chance to express
themselves at primaries, and where
the delegates were picked by the
bosses. In spite of these odds against
me, l obtained clear majority of all
the delegates elected to the conven-
tion. In my campaign L again stated
/ would have nothing to say, but il
they decided for me. and the poli-
ucianS robbed me of the victory. I
would not silently and tamely acuui-
esce. 1t was already evidnt that
my opponents, with Mr.. Taft's en-
foul means if they could not by fair
means.
Blasts National Committee.
The crucial but not the only stem
In the concerted and hitherto sue
cesstul effort to cheat the people out
OF the victory they had fairly won
was taken up by the now defunct
National Committee, which, without
one show of justification, and with
synical contempt Of the most ordI-
nary rules of decency. in making up
the temporary rOll-can unseated
ninety fairly elected Roosevelt dele
gates ana substituted for them ninety
Iaft delegates, who, in the conven-
ton, represent nothing whatever but
successful fraud. l was clearly en-
Titled to all these delegates. All the
ninety possessed, for instance. clearer
utIes than the uncontested Taft dele
gates from New York City, and as 70
seventy OF them their titles were as
hawless as those of any other dele
gates in the convention.
Mr.. Root was elected and Cover
On HOllOn Tor partially
cleaning the roll of fraud was de
ieated by the vote of these ninety
fraudulent delegates, the last being n
vote on a straight moral issue. the
IesuIt OF which, in my Judgment
ought TO render it impossible for any
man longer TO take part in the pro-
ceeulnSs OF the convention as now
constituted. The majority in each
case was slightly over fifty.
Successful RaScaIitv,,
IN each case, therefore, if il had
not been for the hitherto successful
rascality which placed these fraudu-
lent delegates on the roll and then
permitted them to vote, the case of
lecency would have won. Mr. Nc
Govern would have been elected in
place of Mr.. Root, Governor Deneen's
motion would have prevailed, and the
republican national convention would
now have been exercising in good
Iaith the high, honorable and vitality
function of honestly repre-
senting the wishes, the Judgment and
the interest of the plain people who
make up the mass of the Republican
party. Instead, il now represents
nothing but successful political fraud
perpetrated in the interest of politi-
cal and financial privilege.
Il understand that Mr. Root has
announced that no one of the stolen
delegates Will be allowed to vote on
his own case. but that all will be al
lowed to vote on one another's cases.
such ruling is a sheer denial of JUS
Lice and fair play.
Regards Ii As Conspiracy.
This case bears no analogy to or
binary cases where contesting dele
gates have no connection with one
another, and where there is no GEN
eral conspiracy which must be con-
sldered as whole. All these ninety
fraudulent delegates were seated at
me same time by the votes of the
same national committeeman to serve
me same purpose. The Credential
committee appointed to try their
cases includes three of their own
number, from the States OF Washing
ton, Arizona and Texas, where the
1eieSatons were stolen en- masse.
rms committee selected as its chair
man the Guggenheim delegate from
colorado, who has already, as ma
Ional committeeman, assisted in in
uatlnS the very frauds upon which
ne rs now to sit in Judgment
Nothlng that this committee may do is
-ntltIed TO consideration, and in consid-
srlnS what they do it'll be well to keen
IN nina the remark made in private
oy one of the National Committeeman.
VINO, when asked why they had stolen
SO many more delegates than were
heeued Tor their purposes, answered
mat II would enable the credentials
committee to make show of generos-
ty by unseating some while retainine,