The Washington times., 1912-02-22
PRESIDENT PLANS
MAKING REPLY To-
ROOSEVELT SPEECH
Toledo Selected AS Place
and March 8 the
Date.

President Taft today decided to reply
TO the Roosecelt speech. He will do this
at Toledo. ohio, on March s.
This decision was reached at a White
House conference today. Hundreds of
kilograms have come to Mr.. Taft since
noon yesterday urging him to answer
Colonel Roosevelt and answer him eff
fectively.
Many of these messages were from
friends in ohio who heard the Roosevelt
declarations first-handed. Others were
from Toledo, who wanted that CITY
made the scene of the first Taft speech.
following the Columbus challenge of his
predecessor.
The decision was reached this morn
ing to include Toledo in the Chicago
trip Instead of leaving Washington on
March 8, therefore, the President will
leave on March 7. He will go to Toledo
for one day and thence to Chicago. 70
carry out his previously arranged pro-
gram. NJ
1t was learned at the White House
today that the President would not at.
tempt to reply to Roosevelt in one
speech. He will divide the work into
four or five parts, and two or three in
stallments will be delivered in Chicago
after the opening shot at Toledo.
Mr.. Taft Is able to agree with some
has originally believed In all the Roose.
welt policies" About those principles
and propositions which Mr.. Taft and
the colonel are in agreement no mon.
speeches. r, .r
Will Speak With Force.
When it comes to the recall of judges
to the initiative and referendum, and tc
some of the progressive ideas of the
colonel, the President may be expected
to deliver himself and do it with force.
At the White House the feeling pre-
walls that Colonel RooseYelt has abso-
iutely. put himself out Of the running
In so far as winning the nomination this
year is concerned. The Taft people ara
of the opinion that Mr. Roosevelt has
been too progressive, that he is aheaI
or his oHn game.
- Looking at the matter that way the
Tatt people today argue that the
colorel is not seriously seeking the
nomination this year, but that he ID
shrewlly laying his plans to come back
ply laying the. foundation for a pro-
gressive candidacy four years hence
and by that time ne expects ms party
him.
or course, the strictly Taft support,
ers are, arguing these things to THEFT
own advantage as much as possible
They arc saying that the Columbus
speech Is weak, in that 1t failed IL
touch on the tariff or the great Issue
among the people, which is the cost OF
living.
Expect Him to Run.
Regardless, however, of their feelina
that Roosevelt is unable to win. the
Taft managers no longer argue that h
will not be candidate. In fact, canno
see how Roosevelt can da, otherwis:
than announce his candidacy, after sacf
speseh as delivered yesterday.
The very fact that there will be
Roosevelt candidacy gives alarm in Ad
ln!nistratiOn circles. Such r. candidacy
means that the Republican party viii
be split wider than ever and 1t mems
they fear, that the no mination OF Taf
Will result inevitably in the nomination
of decidedly progressive Democrat
Such a candidate of the Dcmocrati
party would gain the support of vas
number OF Republicans and would re
suit, maybe, in sweeping victory fo
the Democrats.