The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-02-27
TAFT had TRUSTED
COLONEL'S HONOR
WASDEEPLY WOUNDED BY R00SE-
yELT:S CRISP ANNOUNCEMENT
May Result in Split in Presidents Of.
fetal Famil9-Democrats Rather
Pleased at News.

! flSdScu d. NcNSs
Washington, Feb. 25.-NeWspapers
and the Offices of Washington ccrre'
spondents were besieged today and
| tonight with personal and telephone
calls from politicians and statesmen
asked what Col. Roosevelt had to say
In the list of anxious callers were
several Roosevelt boomers, who had
recently called on the former presl-
| dent and to whom it was supposed ad-
vance information of his intentions
had been given. It was evident that
| few were prepared for the crisp, un-
euuivocal statement from the colonel
that he was a candidate for the Re-
publican nomination.
Expects to Win.
The only remark emanating from
the president during the day that bore
upon the tense political situation was
, made to a senator who asked that his
name be not used. 1t was:
"I know that we are right and
am confident that we will be success
full"
It has been only in the last fort
night that President Taft has been
willing to admit to his closest friends
that he believed Col. Roosevelt would
enter the race against him for the
nomination. It is doubted whether
I'D to the last minute he was fully
convinced chat any announcements
coming from his predecessor would
be without string attached.
That President Taft was deeply
hurt to learn that from now on he
must engage in an open contest
against the man under whom he had
served for many years became known
soon after the Roosevelt letter was
+ made public.
Taft Hard to Convince.
The relations between Col. Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft, when the latter
served as secretary of war, were ex-
ceptionally close. For months Presl-
cent Taft refused to believe that Col.
Roosevelt would oppose him for re-
nomination, and that he was convlnc-
ed the colonel would turn a deaf ear
to all urging, that he himself become a
candidate, was known to all Mr.. TAFT S
friends. These friends have pointed
out that H. J.. Stimson, secretary of
war, who IAN for governor OF New
Work, with Mr.. Roosevelt as his most
conspicuous backer, and also George
Won l.. Meyer, secretary of the navy,
who was in the Roosevelt cabinet and
one of his chiefs closest counsellors,
weer in the Taft official family.
. It has been matter Of every day
comment that Messrs. Stimson and
Meyer have been frequent visitors to
Col. Roosevelt's Offices in New York
or his home at Oyster Bay. These
visits were accepted as proof that
Messrs. Taft and Roosevelt weer not
wholly estranged. There is a great
deal of speculation here tonight as to
the probable attitude Of these mem
bers of the cabinet.
. May Lose Their Jobs.
If their support is given to Col.
Roosevelt their designations may be
expected. So far as Secretary Slim
son is concerned, it is known that he
entered the Taft cabinet unhampered
as to any future political activity. Col.
Roosevelt is one of the men he is
known to have consulted before he
accepted the war portfolio, and it is
said upon unquestioned authority that
he stipulated he should not be ex-
pected to do campaign work. Yet he
has accepted an invitation to speak
in Chicago on March 5 at the Taft
club meeting.
Only as recently as last Friday Sec
retary Meyer met a rumor that he was
about to resign with this statement:
"If I remain in the cabinet, as I in
tend to do, it is quite evident tha my
loyalty will be with my chief"
Many who inquired as to the phrase
ology of the Roosevelt letter were in
tent on learning whether it was made
clear that the colonel would be can
l;ao+. oo11, ,,nti1 tho Nhica on cDnVeO-