New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29
DIDN'T CARE FOR
VICE-PRESIDENCY
Roosevelt Declares He Would
Have Been Renominated for
Governor in 1900.
lrrcn 4. st.r cprrsprndent o, The rr.bunel

From , stan Correspondent o, Tho Tribunal
Syracuse, April 2S.-Theodore Roose-
welt would have been renominated for
Governor Of New York in 1900 II be
had not been named for Vice-Presi-
dent. This addition TO the political
history that led up to the selection of
Roosevelt for the second place on the
Republican national ticket that year
was made by the Colonel on the stand
here late this afternoon.
Hitherto the general understanding
Of the effort made by Senator Plat
TO force the Governor TO run for the
Vice-P Presidency has been that it was
due to the wish Of the Easy Boss"
to get rid Of the Governor. In his
autobiography the Colonel relates how
Senator Plat abandoned his efforts to
put him on the national ticket, and he
was put there by delegates from other
states But there is nothing in that
story to show that Senator Plat prom
ised to renominate the Governor that
year.
Every detail Of the incident was re
lated by the Colonel on the stand this
afternoon, while the jury listened with
the utmost interest.
In his autobiography Colonel Roose-
welt charges Senator Plat directly with
wanting to get rid of him as Gov
H. f4xr NF n n
big corporation men. He did not do so
to-day. He simply said he told the
delegates he would consider an at
tempt to nominate him in such light.
The matter came up when John NJ.
Bowers, on the redirect examination.
sought to have the Colonel explain his
letter on the ce-Presidency written
to Senator Plat on February l, 1900.
Platt Insistent on Nomination.
"Did you have many conversations
with the Senator on that matter? ?" the
counsel asked.
yes" replied the Colonel, with a
reminiscent CLEAN in his eye. They
lasted from April right up to the night
before the nomination. He urged me
more and more strongly TO accept.
Toward the end he was insistent that
should take the place, and said the
New York delegation would put me IN
nomination" ~
"Did you object to that" asked Mr..
Bowers.
81 certainly did" witness replied. 81
consulted with two or three other Sen
ators about il, and at Philadelphia II
came TO a head. Senator Plat had
urged me that il was necessary for me
to run for the Presidency on the
ground that the party leaders thought
nv name would strengthen the ticket
and they had the right to expect that
would run.
81 declared that the place seemed
most unattractive. | said | wanted to
90 on as Governor. AS a matter OF
fact. thought | would be doing bet
ter work if | went back into private
life than to go into the Nice-Presi-
dency. Two or three had spoken TO me
about taking a professorship of his
tory"
What Happened at Philadelphia.
When, leading on the witness, Mr.;
Bowers shot at him: What happened
at the Philadelphia convention" Mr..
WINS hoped up with q most vehement
protest :,
1--WE are not interested IN mis- ols-
cussions with Senator Plat at Phila-
delpha or elsewhere" Mr.. Wins ex-
claimed. "They may be Of tremendous
interest to the witness, but they have
no bearing on this case"
Justice Andrews ruled that as the
matter had been brought up by the in
PRODUCTION of an original letter the
witness might 60 on.
"When | got TO Philadelphia" said
the Colonel, Senator Platt sent for
me. He had met with an accident and
was confined to his room. He sent for
me while the New York delegation was
talking over the Vice-Presidency down
stairs"
Relating what occurred in the room
Of the Boss of New York State, the
Colonel continues: "He told me ! must
accept the nomination for Vice-Presi-
dent. If refused, he declared, | would
not be renominated for Governor.
"All right, we will part | said. |
added that ! did not intend TO accept
and that | would go down to see the
New York delegation. l would tell
them if they attempted TO put my name
up | should consider it as an assault
and an attempt to get me out of the
Governorship."