The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-08
REQUIRES
STRONG LEADER
Roosevelt Gives Reasons for En-
telIng Presidential Race.

Oyster Bay, n. Y. March 4.-Colonel
Roosevelt's own views Of the present
political situation and his reasons for
entering the campaign were explained
by him.
AS he trudsed along the country
road from Oyster Bay village to Saga.
more Hill the former president talked
freely Of his prospects and briefly
stated that his reason for entering into
political campaign as an active can.
didate was that men who share his
political beliefs had convinced him
that they needed an effective leader.
AS to the prospects Of victory Colonel
Roosevelt expressed the opinion that
on popular vote he would be the
choice Of his party by big majority.
How far this result might be modified
by the interposition of the machinery
of politics he was unable to say.
Colonel Roosevelt said he suppos ed
great many persons would not be-
lieve 1t, but that he had not wished
to enter the fight. 80 far as a per-
sonal victory is concerned I don't
care" he said.
In 1904, he said, his position was dit
ferent. He was DESTROYS of tho nomi.
nation because he wished the peoples
seal Of approval. But in taking up
the fight this year he was opposing
his personal inclinations. Many sup
porters had come to him and repre-
sented that they needed leader and
that there was a widespread demand
that he assume the responsibility. II
was In response. to these representa-
tons, the colonel added, that he had
at length determined to accept tue
leadership.
Colonel Roosevelt's assertion that
he believed a large majority of Re-
publican voters favored him was made
when he was informed of the result
Of canvass in different sections of
the country, showing an alleged ratio
of. two to one for Roosevelt. The
colonel said he thought that about
represented the situation. ..
majority on FoPulAF vote
In all but four or five states, inciud,
ing Delaware and Utah, Colonel Roose-
welt said he believed he would re.
csive: a majority on popular vote.
He added that he felt confident he
would have majority of the Penn.
sylvania delegation to the national
convention. He was told that the test
vote in New England had given him
an alleged slight lead over President
Taft and he said he was not at all
surprised at that. IS. -.
Former Senator Albert ]. Beveridge
Of Indiana had come to Oyster Bay to
go over the Indiana situation with the
colonel and former Congressman Fred
Lands of Indiana. Amos Pinchot
Of New York. brother of Clifford Pin
chot, John Bass, brother of Governor
Robert Bass of New Hampshire, Ben
jamin /. Wheeler, president of the Uni.
versity of California and Lieutenant
John c. Greenway OF Bisbee, Ariz.,
who served under the colonel in the
Rough Riders were the other
guests.
The Indiana situation was gone over
at length, Colonel Roosevelt said that
Indiana was the weakest of the Mid
die states, from the viewpoint of the
Roosevelt forces. If the issue could
be put to a popular vote, he said, he
believed majority Of the enrolled
Republicans would favor his cause.
But as there was no primary system
IN Indiana for the expression Of pref
erence as to presidential nominees, he
said, the result was in doubt.
Senator Beverage expressed tbs
same view. There was a Roosevelt
movement In every district, said the
senator, but 1t would be pretty hard
TO defeat the organization, which he
believed would rule the convention.