Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-21
7. R. WOULD HEAD
THIRD PARTY
..a. TICKET
Colonel Says He Would Accept
Such a Nomination if He
Is Wanted.

CHICAGO, June 1.-Supplementing
his early statement, in which he de-
clared he was in the fight to stay. Theo-
dore Roosevelt last evening issued a
lengthy statement outlining his posi-
ton. and stating that if the purged
convention desires to nominate him
he will accept, or If it is unpurged and
part of his friends choose to with
draw and nominate him as an indie
pendent candidate for president he will
accept and fight to the last, win or
lose, before the people of all parties in
all sections of the United States.
After outlining the fraud" in the
seating of delegates, etc, the colonel
concludes
Unfortunately in our political life
the INSCRIPTIONS man who commits
wrongs such as these can usually count
on having some respectable men sup
porting him and other respectable men
opposing him, but who cease their op-
position at the point when 1t would be-
come really effective.
I'm this convention, the unscrupr-
lous men who are the leaders have al
ready received support from the for
mer class u respectable non; and
they count on seeing representatives
of the latter class, who have hitherto
voted against them for fear to take the
decisive step of sundering connection
with the fraudulent convention itself.
II decline any longer to be bound
by any action it may take I decline
to regard as binding any nomination
it may make. do not regard success
full fraud and deliberate theft as con-
shutting title to party regularity or
claim to the support Of any honest
man of any party
Il hope that the honestly elected ma
jority win at once insist upon inme-
date purging of the roll in its entire
ty and not piece meal, by the conven
ton.
Would Run Independently,
If this purge is not accomplished
hope the honestly elected delegates
will decline all further connection with
convention whose action Is now de-
termined and has hitherto been de-
termined. by a majority which is made
a majority only by the action of the
fraudulent delegates whom the con-
vention has refused to strike from the
rolls. If the leaders of the honestly
elected majority disagree with me in
this matter and wish for any cause to
defer for the moment this action. then
I most earnestly hope that at least
they will insist upon voting on the
cases of these fraudulent delegates en-
| bloc and not separately.
I'VE can not afford to pardon a thief
on condition he surrenders half the
stolen goods
IF the honestly elected majority Of
the convention choose to proceed to
business and to nominate me as the
candidate of the real Republican party,
shall accept. If some among them
fear to take such a stand, and the re-
mainder choose to inaugurate move
ment to nominate me for the presi-
dency on a progressive platform and
in such event the general feeling
among progressives favors by being
nominated. l shall accept. In either
case 1 shall make my appeal to every
honest citizen in the nation, and I
shall fight the campaign through, win
or lose. even If 1 do not get single
electoral vote.
No Promises of Reward.
~ do not wish q single man to sup.
port me from any personal feeling for
me. | have nothing to offer any man;
any man who supports me will do SO
without hope of gain and at the risk
of personal loss and discomfort. But
if, having this in view, those fervent
in this great fight for the rule for the
people and for social and industrial JUS
tice, which has now also become q
clear cut fight for honesty against dis
honesty, fraud and theft, desire mo to
lead the fight, will do so.
There can be no cause for which Il
is better worth while to fight, none in
which II is Of less consequence WHIST
happens to the individual himself, pro-
vided only that he valiantly does his
duty in the forward movement.
Il shall make my appeal to all hon.
est men, East and West, North and
South and will abide by the result
whatever the result may be.
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"