The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-01
PAINFUL EFFECT
At WHITE | HOUSE
President Taft Feels Roosevelt
Statement keenIy.

! Washington, Feb. 26.-President
Taft and his political managers had
no public comment to make on the
Roosevelt statement, but to a United
States, senator who talked: 10 Mr., Taft
in regard to the statement the presi.
dent said: =
| Il know ne are right and I am con-
hdent that We will be successful"
The Roosevelt statement will be re-
ceived by Republicans with varying
opinions, but all agreed that il was
stronger and more to the point than
they had anticipated. Colonel Roose.
yelt, in their opinion, has said not
merely that he would accept the snomi-
nation if 1t comes to him, Dut, rather,
Il, am a candidate; nominate me-
| The general drift of opinion among
all shades Of Republicans. is that the
Roosevelt statement means a, split in
the Republican party which absolutely
insures the election. of a Democratic
! president unless some compromise is
reached. -. President. Taft, will never
consent now to yield in vRoosevelt's
favor unless he is absolutely outvoted
in the Chicago convention and Roose-
| velt's supporters declare that his
| statement may be, taken as absolute
assurance that he is in the fight to
! the finish. II 8. !.
In the opinion of experimentation
lican politicians this means bitter
personal campaign between the presi-
dent and his predecessor, with re.
sulting situation that will make it i'm
/ possible for either to obtain the cor
dial support of'the: other after the re-
suit shall have been determined. ia
the Chicago convention. -.
| With such split confronting the
party there will be only one hope Of
success and that will be in the selec-
| ton, of a compromise candidate. II
Roosevelt carries out his present In
tention that, in the opinion of political
observers, will be the only chance for
Republican success.
This decided turn in the situation
has again. revived talk of Associate
Justice Charles r.. Hughes, as possi.
BILE compromise. eandidate. o. II,
1t is. the beliefgin Washington that
the president, ); in 3the taeventhef Reose.
velt,s gaining the upper hand in the
Chicago convention, would throw his
support TO Hughes. or some other can
/ didate before he, would see the honor
conferred upon the former president.
Blasts Forever Warm Friendship.
The president lis said to have re-
/ eeived' ,Rooseyelt's statement not in
anger but'in pain. THIS receipt of the
statement, Taft's friends cay, meant
to him the blasting forever of a friend
ship that had for years been warm aud
intimate. !: The president was the last
| to acknowledge that Roosevelt had
turned upon him and was seeking to
undermine his political strength.
| The president has expressed the
fear TO more than one Of his friends
| that the fight that has been started
will result in the undoing Of the Re-
publican party in 1912 Yet the pfesi-
dent himself has been forced into a
situation where his friends say he will
be obliged to, wage bitter fight and
he intends to do it with all his
strength. ...7..
The president and his advisers will
try to avoid personalities, although
they appreciate that Roosevelt is GER
tain to say and do things that will re-
quire direct reply from Mr.. Taft.
The president feels that his back has
been forced against the wall and no
avenue has been left for him except
personal controversy with his prede-
eessor and former political sponsor.
1T has been only in the last fort
night that President Taft, has been
willing TO admit to his closest friends
that he believed Colonel Roosevelt
would enter the race against him for
the nomination 1t is doubted whether
up to the last minute he was fully con-
WINGED that any announcement coming
from his predecessor would be without
. string attached. ~ *;
| The relations between Colonel
Roosevelt and Mr. Taft, when the lat.
ter served as secretary of war;. were
exceptionally close. For months Presi-
dent Taft refused to believe that Colo
mel Roosevelt would oppose him for
a denomination and that he was con.
WINGED the colonel would turn a deaf
ear to all urging that he himself be-
come candidate was known to all
Mr. Taft's friends.
Opinions differed among the Repub'
lican progressiyes in regard to the Ell
feet of the Roosevelt statement on ths
political situation. Some Of the pro
Eressives OF the more conservative
type declared that the statement was
a mistake and that it, together with
his Columbus speech, would drag
Roosevelt down TO defeat. #
Progressives Of the more radical
type, however, hailed the Rooserslt
statement with favor; -
COLONEL DIDN'T SAY ENOUGH