The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-06
Refuses To Accept Teddy's Candidacy, Despite Efforts
 Of His Friends
DUT FOR PRINCIPLES
 AND NOT INDIVIDUALS
Plan Of Leaders To Bring Sena- tor And Ex-PTeSident
 Together
Especial from United Press.)

Washington, Feb. 6-The Progress Eive Republican situation cleared, to- day, revealing Senator LaFol1ette standing practically alone but refus- ing to accept the candidacy of Col onel Roosevelt as expediency, though the strongest efforts of many of his closest friends and advisers were spent in an attempt to induce him to do so.
 'I have been the standard bearer of principles not individuals. no pos sibIe change in circumstances can change the great issues for which 1 have fought and will continue to fight. can enlist in the ranks of no man unless he adopt publicly, in binding terms, the true principles of progress sive- government by the people,
 This statement summed up the an swer given by LaFollette to the lead CTS who pleaded with him to come out for Roosevelt. His refusal presents -today's problems with which the pro- gressive leaders are contending.
 Several progressives joined, today in an effort to bring about a meet ing or an exchange of correspondence between Roosevelt and LaFollette. In this manner they hoped to induce is a candidate for the presidency, to make a declaration of principles, rep resenting his attitude toward pubic affairs and marking the general lines
 
 expected to be drawn. These leaders hoped that they would be able to con- vince LaFollette that, in fundamen- tals, he and Roosevelt are on the same ground. They planned also to use the Roosevelt declaration as basis for a fight against the rapidly rising. Taft organization strength.
 Unless some such solution is found, it was made known positively, today, that Senator IaFollette will go be- fore the Chicago convention in oppo- -g+t kA KonnnaaUo1f r. ever small support of loyal friends he may be able to hold, will fight to the end for his platform
 LaFollette stood today, with prac- tica11y only one big supporter-Gov- ner Hiram W. Johnson, of California, who is pledged to shis support and who has told Colonel Roosevelt that he will stand by his pledge until releas- ed by LaFoIlette personally, regard less of what the Senator's fortunes
 LaFoIIette's attitude in the present situation was made known in a stae- ment. today, as follows:
 As a progesstve leader Of pToveo ed as the leader of the fight to be made at Chicago, drafted at time when the leadership was thought to welt. at that time. positively eliminat- ed himself from the 1912 fight and his followers for the most part being also sincere admirers of Senat tor LaFollette pledged themselves to the latter.
 '+LaFollette claims that before con- senting to make the fight, he had every assurance from Colonel Roose- welt that the latter would not, under any conditions, be a candidate in 1912. IlaFollette started his fight at time when the prospects for preventing the 7-enomination of President Taft were z.idicuIously small
 ''As the movement grew and the in dica tions of possible progressive strength developed, the Roosevelt boom was launched. The boom was believed at first by many to be in reality a backfire started by regular Republicans to split the progressive movement The crisis was reached when many of those who pledged themselves to LaFolIette's support but who. in reality. preferred Roosevelt, announced the discovery that La Toilette could not win and that the nation was demanding Roosevelt
 ''The final break came last Friday riRht when LaFollette, whose physi- cal condition was such that, properly coached, he would never have been all lowed to speak. was victimized by his shattered nervous system and commit ted what even his most loyal friends admit was a grievous political bun ,,er by attacking without discrimina- +ton tIae press of the natiOn.'