Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-26
ROOSEVELT IN RING
Will Accept Nomination if Of
fered to Him.
ANSWERS TO GOVERNORS
To Adhere to Decision Until Conven-
ton Expresses Preference.
NO DEFINITE PLANS, HE SAYS
Colonel, Questioned at Boston, Shows
Great Unwillingness to Dis
cuss the Situation.
NO DEFINITE PLANS, HE SAYS


Roosevelt's reply to the western gov
ernors was given out for publication last
night by his secretary, Frank Harper
The letter was addressed to the seven
governors who on February 10 wrote to
Col. Roosevelt asking him to define his
position. His reply was definite ac-
ceptance Of the implied invitation to be a
candidate for the presidency of the
United States, phrased in these words:
III will accept the nomination for
President IL 1t 10 rendered to me, and
WILL adhere to this decision until the
convention has cxpressed it's prefer
ence.'
Mr.. Roosevelt is away in Boston, but
before he left here Saturday it was an
nOunced that his reply to the letter of
the western governors would be given out
at 6 O'Clock Sunday night. Promptly at
that hour his secretary, Mr.. Harper, ar
rived at the Office of the outlook and
handed out printed copies not only of
Mr.. Roosevelt's reply, but of the letter
to him from the governors. as well.
Governors Met in Chicago.
The seven governors who sent the let
ter of inquiry to Mr.. Roosevelt met in
Chicago little more than two weeks
ago, and after an exchange of views and
reports on the political situation in gen.
eral and the Roosevelt sentiment In par
ticular. drafted their letter to Mr.. Roose-
welt, which was dated February TO- and
which urged him to declare himself as
TO whether he would accept the repub-
lican nomination if it came unsolicited
and unsought.''
Col. Roosevelt considered their letter
for two weeks, and all attempts In the
meantime to get from him any statement
concerning what answer he intended to
give met with the response that the mat
ter was under consideration.
In Cleveland last Wednesday night.
when he was returning from his visit to
Columbus. Ohio, where he addressed the
Ohio constitutional convention, Mr..
Roosevelt gave the first public indication
that he was contemplating a reply of
acceptance to the governors, when he
told a friend:
my answer Monday"
Secretary Makes No Comment.
Mr.. Roosevelt's secretary had no COM
ment, explanation or elaboration to make
on his chiefs statement.
The letter from the governors is as fol-
lows.
Chicago. February 10, 1917.
1--WE, the undersigned republican gov
errors, assembled for the purpose of con-
sideriag WHAT will best insure the con-
tinuation of the republican party as
useful agency of good government, de-
clare it our belief' after careful inves-
tigatidn OF the facts, that a large ma
jority' OF the republican voters of the
country favor your nomination, and
large majority of the people favor your
election as the next President of the
United States.
1--WE believe that your candidacy will
insure success in the next campaign. We
believe that you represent, as no other
man represents, those principles and poll
cies upon which We must appeal for
majority OF the votes OF the American
people, and which, in our opinion. are
necessary for the happiness and pros
perity. of the country.
I'VE believe that. in view of this public
demand you should soon declare whether,
II the nomination for the presidency come
to you unsolicited and unSOught, you Will
accept 1t.
In submitting this request we are not
considering your personal interests. We
do not regard II as proper to consider
either the interests or the preference OF
any man as regards the nomination for
the presidency. We are expressing our
sincere belief and best judgment as to
what Is demanded of you in the interests
of the people as a whole.
And we feel that you would be unre-
sponsive to a plain public duty IL you
should decline to accept the nomination.
coming as the voluntary expression of
the wishes of majority of the repub-
lican voters Of the United States through
the action Of their delegates in the next
national convention. Yours truly,
civilian E. GLASSCOCk,
'CHESTER II. ALDRICH,
ROBERT p. BASS.
JOSEPH NJ. CAREY,
CHASE s. OSBORN,
wv. r.. STUBS,
'.HERBERT 8. HADLEY.''