New-York tribune., 1912-01-31
START ROOSEVELT BOOM |
Stokes and Other New Jersey
Politicians Meet Here.
| AWRENCE ABBOTT'S LETTER
Writes His Belief the Colonel
Wouldn't Decline Call to
Run Again.

/
! Having received a letter from Lawrence
I, Abbott one of the editors of THE Out
look" with whom Theodore Roosevelt as
| contributing editor, is closely associated, eA
nrossipr his belief that Mr. Roosevelt would
NOT decline a call to run for the Presidency
again. former Governor e. {. STOKES oI
/ New Jersey has started movement t'
| boom the former President in that STATE.
These plans were discussed yesterday al
the Union Club in this city where MT
| Stokes had luncheon with a number or Ne"
Jersey politicians who are I'm sympathy
with the movement. No statement as to
what plans were made was forthcoming
after the luncheon, but they may be an
nounced I'm a few days. Others at tho
luncheon were said to be former Governor
Fort, Senator w. J. Bradley William Lofd
vice-chairman of the Essex County lNe-
nublican Committee. and sheriff Hettrlck
of Monmouth County.
In his letter to former Governor Stokes
Mr. Abbott went on TO say, as do all those
who announce their belief that Mr.. Roose-
welt would accept a nomination. thaI i've
had 10 authority to speak for h!m' MI
Abbott said further. however. that uur'"S
the last two years he had had eXcep'loi"'
opportunity 10 learn the views OF MI iNoo'''
Welt and the workings of MS nina
81 am convinced" Mr. Abbott wro'c'
"bot no docs not desire the nomination
and will enter no contest for it, but am
oouaIIv convinced that if his Countrymeh
have still further need of his service as
their Chief Executive. he will no more ue-
cIin. their call than he would decline 10 en-
list if needed in time Of war
The full text of the letter is as iolio"s
Nv Dear Governor: In answer to your
letter i'm which you ask me, as one oI vi
Roosevet's associates, whether ne ,', Mou,u
accent the nomination Tor the fltSIueiI, -
! can state my views of the SITUATION III q =
few words. 1 have no authority TO speah
for him and what | say ~ my own ilul
vidual opinion. But ! nave hd4 SUN sun 80
reptional opportunities during the last w"
years not only TO learn his ponucdl PiII-
cinIae hut to see at times the lntlmai .
working Of his mind, and believe ! cIedi y
understand his attitude with regard 70 NV w
discussion Of his name as GfesI"'i'''''
II Mir Roosevelt Is ever elected freSi-
dent again. IT will not be because ne setha
or wants the Office. II will be because luc
country wants him IN the ONCE 10 p''io' III
lie has had all the political and official
honor that any man can possibly want
lie accepted a nomination for the ' ice
Presidency in 1900 when Such noHiiiiaiIo'
n, Thought 70 he equivalent to pOhtcdl
oblivion and although ne wanted 10 run
again for Governor of the state oi New
| York i'm order to complete some important
! work in that Office. IT,. ,, ,,... his
But ms old friends told him 1t was ms
! duty to sacrifice himself I'm order t9
strengthen Mr.. MCkirlCys nomination an"
! the campaign for sound money ana ma
/ tional financial honor ,.,
! lie accepted the nomination on t,at
/ ground. although at the time noih ms
! friends and his enemies said that II Woulo
mean the end of his political career &.
/ Il did not end his career. however. i0r IN
/ 1904 he was nominated practically NlthOul
! onposition and elected by an overwhelming
In 1893 he not only declined but put stop
to his denomination at time when such
a nomination was equivalent TO an e'ec'
! ton. l.. =,
What possible incentive can there be 10
| a man with his record OF bOth European
and American achievements ana hoholS ~ ~
enter the arduOus, Iisaereeahle ana oll1H
| disastrous contests .ntO which INC cdhui-
date who struggles for the Presidency i
inevitably plunged? ,-,..
| | am convinced that he does not desire
the nomination and will enter no contest 10
obtain il. But | am equally convinced thar
! If his countrymen nave still further need
of his services as their Chief Executive ne
| would decline 10 enlist If needed, IN ume
! Of war.
country, aInd not Tor him. to decide b,,o Ino
! am sure he will accept; If they elect him
/ am sure he will serve.
/ | base my opinion upon his own words.
! On June is. 1910. when he arrived in New
| York on his return from Africa, he replied
to MAYOR Gaynors address or welcome as
! follows:
Il am ready and eager to do my part, 50
! far as ! ain able. I'm helping solve prob
| lens which must he solved II We, Of this
the greatest democratic republic upon
! which the sun has ever ShOne are 10 sec
its destnies rise to the high level Of our
! hop and it's opportunities. This is the
/ duty Of every citizen, but II Is peculiarly
! my duty: for any man who has ever been
! honored by being made President Of the
| United States is thereby forever after rem
derod debtor TO the American people. and
| is bound throughout his life 20 remember
! this his prime obligation, and In pri-
vate Ufe as much ds in public life so 10
J carry himself that the American people
/ may never have cause to feel regret that
once they placed him at their head"
| Trusting that / have satisfactorily an
swered your question; ! am yours sin
| Cerely. LAWRENCE +. ABBOTT
| Mr. Roosevelt was at the Outlook" Of
! fee Yesterday. When asked in regard IN
a story in THE Chicago Evening Post"
/ in which he was quoted as saying III
the people should feel that / was the in
| strumcnt 20 be used at this time / Should
| accept, even although knew that | should
! be broken and cast aside in the using,
| Mr.. Roosevelt replied;
80 far as / know | have seen no repre-
| sentative OF The Chicago Evening Post,
and certainly gave no statement"
| Governor w. r. Stubbs OF Kansas, who
| relieved his mind of the conviction that
/ Mr.. Roosevelt would accept a nomination
| If IT were offered TO him after having
! luncheon at oyster Bay on Saturday, had
| an hours talk with the colonel yesterday
/ morning
| Just dropped in to say goodby," he said
I'VE did not talk politics just discussed
! hunting in Africa"
! Governor Stubbs, however, said that hc
was taking back with him a firm conyic.
tion that Mr.. Roosevelt would be nomi.
mated and would accept lie went TO Wash.
| ington in the afternoon, but said that he
| had no intention OF promoting the Roose.
| welt boom while there.
! HpEENE H0IIMTV hlCM NIMc