Omaha daily bee., 1914-05-26
ROOSEVELT BACK IN FRAY
Colonel Will Meet Progressives in
Congress Tuesday Night,
READY TO START CAMPAIGN
Ex-President IL Expected 60 Fire the
oBeninG Gun Before He Leaves
for spaIn-Mny steal March
on Republicans,

OYSTER BAY. n. r., May z5.-The trip
which Colonel Roosevelt is to make 20
| Washington tomorrow took on a new
/ significance when II became known today
i he would hold an important conference
with progressive leaders there. on his
! arrival at the capital. Colonel Roosevelt
Will 60 direct 10 the progressive head
quarters. where he expects to see all the
progressives In congress. From them he
expects to obtain first hand information
as TO the course Of events In Washington
during the last few months.
This conference viii determine In a
large measure plans 10 be followed In
starting the bah rolling for the fail cam
pslgn. Colonel Roosevelt has been urged
by many Of his supporters since his re-
turn from South America to lose no time
In taking issue AZ once with President
Wilson, without waiting for the formal
opening OF the campaign. He said few
days ago he desired 70 keep out OF poll
ties az much ss possible until after his
return from Spain. but recent events
have caused him TO consider the ques-
tion OF jumping into the fray at once.
Mny Fire Opening Gun.
He has alvady expressed briefly his
opposition 10 the Wilson administration's
advocacy Of the canal tolls exemption
act and 10 the proposal to pay $25,OOO,ooO
10 Colombia. II is understood he will
make his severest attack on the present
administrstions foreign policy and on
the operation Of the Underwood tariff
law.
II has been suggested to the colonel
that by remaining silent he Is permitting
the republicans TO steal q march on the
progressiyes by getting first into the
field with their criticisms Of the Wilson
policies. The suggestion has had con-
siderable weight with the former presl-
dent and II Is not improbable that before
he sails for Europe at the end of this
week he will fire the opening gun in what
is expected TO be the hardest fight of his
! career.
Another possible outcome OF the Wash
ington trip is a meeting between Colonel
Roosevelt and republican leaders. Re-
ports that such a meeting might take
place reached oyster Bay today
II became known today that Colonel
| Roosevelt received a visit late last nishr
! from former Senator Albert ]. Beveridge
! OF Indiana.
Colonel Roosevelt will leave New York
| tor Washington at 10 o'clock tomorrow.
lie will be at the capital from 3 o'clock
until midnight, when he 10 to return 10
| New York
Mr.. Roosevelt confirmed dispatches
from Washington that while there he
would pay his respects to President VIII
son at the White House
Plans for Conference.
The progressive conference tomorrow
was arranged following telephone mes
sages between Representative Murdoch
in New York and Representative Hine-
| baush here. Mr.. Murdock said Colonel
Roosevelt wanted TO gather with the
boys" and MIR. Hinebaugh Immediately
/ notified progressives In both houses the
former president wanted TO confer with
! them. The conference will begin At 10
o'clock tomorrow night at progressive
headquarters after the coloners lecture
before the National Geographic society.
Senators Clapp and Poindexter, Repre-
sentative Hlnebaugh chairman of the
J progressive congressional committee, and
/ .. X, Davis. secretary OF the national
committee. will meet Colonel ROOSEVELT q
Galn at Philadelphia
iaTty plans. organization and the tu-
tuTe are TO be talked over, according 10
| Mr. Hineb0ugh.
1T Is my opinion" he said today. 'ths;
II the progressive element in the rs-2ub-
lican party can control their party, they
will endorse Colonel Roosevelt for the
presidency after he is nominated by the
progressive party"