The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-05
Really Thought He Wouldn't
Run at Time He Wrote
SO Positively
LATER DISCOVERED
GENUINE DEMAND
However, If People Do Not
Desire Him to Serve, He
Will Not. Now Doing
Jury Service

OYSTER BAY, n. Y, March -
Colonel Roosevelt dictated a bristling
statement tonight to explain the Van
Valkenberg letter. In which he de-
clared he had no intention Of be-
coming candidate for the presiden-
tfaf nomfftation. The ex-President
said that political circumstances led
him IA write to Van Yalken berg"
His statement follows:
AT that time persistent efforts had
been made from Washington to con-
vince the progressives that j was real
ly supporting Mr.. Taft. On this par
ticular occasion the statement was
made with the greatest explicitness
promptly denied the statement and
was then assured on the one hand
that 1t had been inspired from the
White House, and assured on the
other hand that II had not been. but
on The contrary WAS made purely on
the initiative of the Associated Press
The Associated Press people assured
me that they were not responsible
lot tue lafsP SlAleIHSHt, anu IL Nli
be seen from the letter itself Mr.
Noyes was quoted as having got the
Information from independent
sources / do not know who gave
bout this letter. but I am certain that
II was not Mr.. Van Ealkenberg. for
] know him to be an honorable man.
ITO all who were at that time
writing to me to ask me to be a.
candidate answered that i would
not be. To all who then asked
whether ! would accept II nominated
] answered yes. II i knew them SUI
ficiently well TO be sure that they
would understand me. Ofherwtse l
said simply that ! would croxs that
bridge when came to II, ana In
most cases " the man were NJ all a
close personal friend ! told him that
] counted on his doing everything
possible to prevent any movement
looking to my nomination.
Finally Finds Real Demand"
"It was not until the last three or
four months that. l was finally obliged
10 come TO the conclusion that there
was real demand among the peo-
pie as whole for my nomination.
which did not come in any way from
personal friends of mine. and was
neither inspired nor engineered by
them. When I became convinced
that this popular demand WAS real
and was considerable. and when the
governor OF seven States. increased
by this time to ten. may mention
incidentally, asked me whether ]
would accept II nominated / answered
yes. ] added an expression OF my
wish that wherever possible open pre-
ferential presidential primaries might
be held, 70 as TO find out whom the
Republican voters wished to have
nominated.
IF the people do not wish me to
serve. most certainly | do not wish
10 serve. II they do desire me TO
undertake In their interest great
task, / shall do so. and shall perform
IL with whatever Of courage and ahii-
ity ! possess. Whether there Will
be such an expression Of the popular
will. ] cannot say. as where there
are no preferential primaries 1t I'M
fortunately seems too often tn be the
case that the effort of the political
leaders Is not to give expression to
the popular VIII. but to thwart II in
every way possible
The Letter.
The letter to which the Colonel re-
1rrs concluded m. fnkAUws, 49,. .s =. &
II have expressed myself perfectly
freely to a large number OF men on
this matter. always to the same effect,
telling you. for instance. personally.
and those who were with you at lunch
at my house. and telling Clifford Pin
chot, Jim Garfield. Congressman Mad
ison and Billy Loeb, and Secretary
Meyer and Secretary Stimson, all
alike. just exactly what ] have said
always--that would not be q candi-
A.. nd hnt "A
no intention OF taking any part In the
nomination for and against any can
didatc.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Colonel Roosevelt started drawing
- a day as Juror today in the SUI
preme Court at Mincola- The ex-
President had the option of taking
exemption because Of military service.
but he Insisted that he wanted to do
his duty as q citizen. So he was
sworn in on the petty jury panel along
with q bunch OF farmers and fisher
men.
Does Jury Duty.
A throng In the corridors OF the
rt-house greeted tho ex-PreSident
a. he entered and made his way to
=
. seat after announcing his intention
Of serving. The Colonel sat In the
room with q calendar In his hand.
while the case to be tried during the
term were called of and the March
grand jury was sworn In. When the
list Of petty jurors was called the ex-
President responded to his name with
q gusty Here" When four jurors
had been let on with various excuses.
Justice Putnam turned to Roosevelt
ana said he understood the Colonel
would prefer. on account Of prior en-.
Eagements. to begin sitting on the
panel on Wednesday.
THAT would suit me better, sir. :
asserted the Colonel. The Judge Ak.
ed Il that way. II u expected that
the Colonel will wind up his Jury ca
reer next week. NJ the court calendar
= extremely slim.
sWMi jury service Interfere With
your political work?" was asked.
TT wouldn't make any difference X
II ala rAplied Roosevelt. II consid~
IN than 1norA important. believe N
n h4va slysn3l accmesd Ne a.