Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-03-05
HE MADE NO PROMISE TO TAFT
Says Statement Was Fabricated by
Associated Press.
ROOSEVELT DRAWN ON JURY
Colonel Refuses to Take Advantage
of His Exemption.
ELECTED FOREMAN OF PANEL
when First Case q. Called He IL Ex-
cused from Duty Until wedues-
day Morning and Left
f . the Court Room.

ington Star today prints under New
York date what purports TO be the full
text Of the letter written by Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt. saying that he would
not bc a candidate for the presidential
nomination in 1872 The letter, addressed to
E. A. Van yalkenburg, president and
editor OF the Philadelphia North Amer
ican, reads as follows:
June q. Isl1.-My Dear Mr.. Van VAL
kenburg: I am really obliged to you.
Now will you give Mr. McCiatchy from
me copy Of this letter that am writing
TO you and also send a copy of the letter
to Mr.. Frank b. Noyes. Mr.. McCiatchy
states that Mr.. Noyes informed him,
anent the story sent out by the ~ p
that Mr.. Roosevelt had pledged himself
to support Taft for a second term, that
he (Mr. Noyesl had the same information
from sources entirely independent of those
from which the Associated Press received
the story.
Mr.. Noyes states that he understood
that did 50 express myself to a member
Of the cabinet and also TO an insurgent
senator. and says that he believes that
President Taft thinks that he has as
surances OF support from me. Mr.. Noyes
adds that he explains my denial on the
theory that / explained, my attitude con-
fidentially and = felt entitled to deny it
when It was given publicity. VIII you
tell Mr.. McCIatchy and Mr.. Noyes from
me Cor send shem copies Of this letter..
that Mr.. Noyes Is absolutely and COM
pletely misinformed and that there Is not
one particle Of truth In the statements
made TO him which he thus repeated 10
Mr.. Mcclatchy. The only two members
Of the cabinet to whom / have recently
spoken are Messrs. Meyer and stimson-
THE former wrote me and ths latter
informed me verbally what IN each case
knew already. that neither OF them had
made any such statement To Mr.. Taft or
to any one else, and that both Of than
understand perfectly clearly that i was
not going 10 support any man for the
nomination In 1914 neither Mr.. Taft nor
any one else. The insurgent senator OF
whom Mr.. Noyes speaks is as wholly
mythical a character MS the cabinet min
lister Of whom he speaks.
"He cannot give the name of that in.
surgent senator or find II out. for be will
find that his informant win not give II.
I made no such statement TO any in
surgent senator or to any cabinet minister
or to any other human being. The aim
pie fact is that these stories are not
misunderstandings; ;hsy are deliberate
Inventions Mr.. Noyes is entirely in error
In stating that President Taft thinks he
has assurances OF support from me.
"Mr. Taft thinks nothing OF the kind.
He knows he has no assurance OF support
from me; and neither Mr.. Noyes nor any
one else has one least little particle OF
ground for the opinion thus expressed.
at first thought that the story In ques-
tionesas given out from the White House,
but am now assured that II was gotten
up and given out by the Associated Press
representative at the White House and
from Mr.. Noyes' statement ! should
gather that this was true.
II wish Mr. Noyes, as president of the
Associated Press. TO know that the story
was not a misunderstanding. was not
based upon misinformation. but was
deliberate invention, made out Of whole
cloth, without one particle Of basis be-
yond the imagination Of the man who
made 1t.
II have expressed myself perfectly
freely to a large number Of men in this
matter. always TO the same effect; tell
ing you, for instance, personally, and
those who were with you at lunch at my
house and telling Clifford Pinchot, jim
Garfield and Representative Madison and
Billy Loeb and Secretary Meyer and
Secretary stimson. all alike. just exactly
what have said always, that would not
be a candidate in 1872 myself. and that /
had no intention Of taking any part in
the nomination for or against any candt
date. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
OYSTER BAY. N. Y. March A-coIo-
mel Roosevelt said today 1t was perfectly
true that he had said he would not be a
candidate in 1872 He had mate that
statement to many persons. he said. but
had not declared that he would not ac-
cept the nomination II 1t were rendered
TO him. He drew distinction between
becoming a candidate and being willing
to accept the nomination.
The colonel made It plain that he saw
nothing in the Van valkenberg letter. in.
which he said he would not be a candi-
date in 1919, To conflict with his recent
statement that he would become the nom-
inee Of the party IL his party asked IL.
Past Events Explained.
Colonel Roosevelt's position in the mat
ter. is set forth in a statement which be
gave out today. explaining the circum-
stances which induced him to write to
Mr.. Van yalkenburg. This is the state
ment:
AT that time persistent efforts had
been made from Washington to convince
the progressives that I was really suu-
porting Mr. Taft. On this particular oc-
casion the statement was made with the
greatest expiietness. l promptly denied
the statement, and was assured on the
one hand that II had been inspired from
the White House, and assured on the
other hand that Il had not been, but on
the contrary was made purely on the in
itiatiye Of the Associated Press.
The Associated Press people assured
me that they were not responsible for the
false statements, and as il will be seen
by reference to the letter itself. Mr..
CONTINUED on Second PaeeA