Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-20

RELEASES HIS DELEGATES
Ohio Delegation Announce They Will
Not Follow Him in Break-Plan to
Nominate Governor Haaley.

To number Of persons, assembled
in his apartment today Col. ROose.
welt announced his purpose to lead an
independent fight with new party for
progressive principles.
Chicago, June 20.-The convention
was called to order at 1902 and one
minute later adjourned till 4 o'clock.
Col. Roosevelt today decided to take
the bit in his teeth and repudiate the
present Republican National conven-
tion without further delay.
In u carefully prepared statement
which he read to his personal advisers
and announced would be printed and
handed to all his delegates today, the
colonel announced his willingness to
lead an independent fight for the
principles of the progressive move
ment and called upon such of his
friends as placed these above party
loyalty to join him in the fight. He
promised to make the fight to the
finish, regardless of consequences and
regardless Of the number of his fol-
lowers. He thanked his friends in the
Republican organization and the par
ty who have fought with him up to
the present time and released them
from any obligation other than their
own desire to join him in the fight
for principle. Prior to the issuance of
Roosevelt issued signed statement
to the newspapermen who had beseig-
ed his door for an hour following q
wild series of reports. The colonePs
declaration was correct.
1.-The time comes when feel must
make certain statements-not merely
to honestly elected members of the
Republican National conventio nbut to
the rank and file of the Republican
party and to the honest people of the
entire nation. went into this fight
for certain principles. At the mom-
ent | can only serve these principles
by continuing to bear the personal res
possibility which the advocacy brought
me.
(Signedl Theodore Roosevelt"
Ohio's Roosevelt delegates are
ready to go over to Gov Hadley. They
say they will not follow Col. Roose-
welt into his expected bolt, unless it
seems certain that Taft's convention
organization remains unshaken.
"We will not stand for President
Taft" said King G Thompson, of COL
umbus, "but we are not so bound up in
Col. Roosevelt's candidacy that our
vote will not go to another good pro-
gressive if he can be nominated. We
do not want to bolt the regular con-
vention, however, if we can help it.
"Should there be break with the
conservative delegates, we will take
the position in Ohio that our nominee
is the regular Republican candidate
for president and there is no like
lihood that there will be any split in
tie oHlo Sldte COuStIIlOH.
News reached Roosevelt's friends
early today that the opposition was
planning to abandon Taft as presi-
dental nominee, and to head Of the
Roosevelt movement by the nominal
ion of Gov Hadley who has been floor
leader of the Roosevelt forces. 1t was
decided that radical steps must be
taken to check this move. 1t was re-
ported that Gov. Hadley had been in
conference last night with former
Vice-President Fairbanks, and other
Taft leaders-and the report was be-
lieved by the Coloners leaders.
A messenger was sent to Gov. Had
ley who had asked the Governor wheth
er he would accept nomination at
the hands of convention which had
not purged its roll.
The Governor declined to answer
and the Roosevelt forces decided to
take quick and radical action Gov.
Hadley later appeared at the colon
els rooms joining the conference and
defending his position. He argued
in favor of delay until the conven-
tion should receive report from the
credentials committee and a roll call
be taken, in the convention on this re-
port.
Chicago, June 20.-Since 10 o'clock
last night the radical Roosevelt fol.
lowers have had no ether thought than
they would nominate the Colonel al
a convention other than the one pre-.