Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-16
He EmphaticaIIy Denies
Ro0sevsIt's Claim of
a Cinch.
SAYS T.R. CAN'TWIN OUT
But Admits He Can't Either Un-
less Home State Goes
His Way.

Cleveland, May 16.-In a state
ment today Taft says the claim of
Roosevelt that he controls 522 dele
gates to Chicago is without founda-
ton and is not borne out by facts.
The president said even If Roosevelt
were to get all the delegates yet to be
chosen he could not be nominated.
OHIO NECESSARY.
Taft pointed out Roosevelt had
only 800 delegates and for the first
time admitted the primaries in Ohio
will settle the question of the nomr
ination. The number of Taft dele
gates thus far chosen is 500 and the
vote in Ohio will be a decisive one
and will settle the nomination" said
the president.
ROOSEVELT CLAIMS ALL.
Dayton, o., May 16.-In the opinion
of Theodore Roosevelt the campaign
for the republican nomination for
president has now been decided. A
new broom was tied to the rear plat
form of the former presidents special
yesterday.
The colonel dictated this statement
last night:
THE number of delegates necessary
tc nominate is 539. OF the delegates
| already elected, without counting the
than 500. OF the delegates yet
to be elected, | am confident will
receive enough to insure my nomina-
ton on the first ballot"
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
Colonel Roosevelt's claim was based
upon a table of delegates prepared by
his secretary. According to this calcu-
| lation, there are nearly 500 delegates
already elected and instructed for
Roosevelt without including any unin-
structed or contested delegates.
Colonel Roosevelt said as he went
over the table that he was assured of
enough votes from the total of unin-
/ structed and contested delegates to be
able to state that of the delegates al
ready selected he had more than 500.
/ He referred to a number of states in
which he said he would receive more
votes than are included In the list of
delegates now instructed for him. The
sideration the chances of obtaining
delegates from Ohio or New Jersey.
TAFT TAKING REST.
Cleveland, Ohio, May 16.-Presi-
dent Taft arrived here during the
night He devoted the day to rest.
Tonight he will address a mass meet
ing at the armory.
WILL NOT LET UP.
Sandusky. Ohio, May 1G.-Presi-
dent Taft will not let up in his at
tack on Colonel Roosevelt as long as
he is in the campaign for renomina-
ton.
No matter whether Mr.. Roosevelt
ceases his personal attack on the
president or not, MIR. Taft intends to
keep up his campaign of criticisms
of the former president and outline
the achievements of the Taft admin
istration. In a half dozen speeches
he made yesterday, Mr.. Taft declared
LHdL II WAS not tihiS hO" i'i WI
Roosevelt to preach the doctrine OF
mo personalities"
SAYS HE CALLED BLUFF.
Greenville, Ohio. May 16.-"I called
, his bluff" said Roosevelt today of
, Taft. He was speaking of the Cana
dian reciprocity bill. saying the presi-
dent had attempted to show the ex-
president was with him in the fight
for reciprocity.
Roosevelt said when he first favored
the bill ne had not known its charac-
ter. when ! learned 1t worked ad-
= vantage to the millers' trust and the
beef trust, put myself against it,
the colonel continued.