The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-07
Colonel Roosevelt Shows 1t in
His Reply
HE HINTS AT DISL0YALTY
Roosevelt Also Takes Occasion to Utter
Challenge for a Nationwide Primary
to See Which Candidate Is
More Popular.

| Mneola, March T.. Throwing aside
his determination to keep personalities
out of his campaign for the nomination,
4 Theodore Roosevelt came out yester-
day with a red hot reply to Secretary
of War Henry J.. Stimson's declara-
tion in Chicago Tuesday night that the
I Republicans would be wiser in nom
4 mating Taft and that those who were
/ forcing Roosevelt into the arena against
I Mr.. Taft, contrary to his original in
/ tention, are jeopardizing instead of help
/ ing the real cause Of progress in the
nation"
II was this statement about his "jeop-
ardizing progress" that got under the
colonel's shirt, for lie throws up to
Mr.. Stimson the fact that it was the
Roosevelt support that gave him the
gubernatorial nomination in this state
in 1910 The colonel declares that in
entering the present campaign he is
actuated by the same impulse, namely,
the Sense of duty to the people" that
led him to come out into the open two
years ago. He evidently resents to the
uttermost Mr.. Stimson's suggestion that
he il allowing himself to be forced into
ill-advsed action.
While Col. Roosevelt does not direct
~ charge Mr.. Stimson with ingratitude,
his statement fairly bristles with such
suggestions He reminds MIR. Stimson
that if it had not been for the subdu-
ing of the old guard by the big stick
at Saratoga he would never have got
the nomination, and adds that if it
had not been for the Roosevelt influence
in the campaign OF 1910. the Democrats
would have elected Dix by 100000 votes
instead of 81 600
Having paid his respects TO Mr., Slim
son Col Roosevelt proceeds to answer,
personally, the inquiry made by Presl-
dent Taft's manager, Congressman Nc
Knley, as to whether Senator Dixon
Is acting as chairman of the Roosevelt
national committee with the colonel's
approval and whether Senator Dixon had
delivered his challenge for a nation
wide preferential presidential primary at
the eoloners direction.
Col Roosevelt himself utters the chal-
lenge for the nation primary to
determine whether the Republican voters
prefer himself or Taft as their presiden-
tial candidate this fall. Col. Roosevelt's
declaration that Neither Mr.. Stimson
nor any other man that he has sup
ported owes him any gratitude, for
the reason that he supports men, not
to get their gratitude. but because he
believes that they viii render good serv-
ice to the people, was interpreted as an
indirect cut 1t President Taft himself.
The Roosevelt statement in full reads
as follows;
As regards Mr.. Stimson's statement
that against my original intentions !
am being forced by certain persons into
the arena this year, / need merely say
that the statement is correct only in the
sense that ii would be correct to make
the same statement as to my advocacy
OF Mr.. Stimson for governor in 1910"
In that contest as in this, | was
reluctant to be drawn into
the contest IN that contest, as in this,
! acted only from sense of duty to
the people as n whole and in that con-
test | was assailed with precisely the
same arguments by the great major
ity OF those who are now assailing me. !
Ii | had considered only my own per-
soEal interests and personal preferences, |
! would, of course, have kept out of |
the 1910 campaign have let the ma
chine remain in control Of Saratoga !
auj have seen the state 90 Democrat /
ie by 100000 majority as under those |
it certainly would have |
gone. | went in because ! conscientious.
" felt that it was my duty !
to take my part in the fight (
for honest government, for genuine self
government by the people, without re-
gard to the consequences to myself and /
am in this fight on precisely the same
basis and for precisely the same rea-
sons.
Let me add in view of the questions
Of certain friends that neither Mr. Slim
son nor any other man whom | have
for public Office owes me any
gratitude for doing so.
Il support man not to get his graft
tudc but because I believe he will rem
Ter good service to the people And !
l-k nothing from any man in return
-he people And ] judge him accord
rgly
AS for the question concerning who
ire forcing me into the arena, the an
iwer is easy. Which side is making
Inc demand for open primaries? And
which side is sitting this demand wher-
,yer possible, refusing to accede to it
ave under compulsion, and trusting to
he use of patronage, to such methods
Is those tried in the recent Kansas City
convention. and to those
'ery machine leaders who have turned