Evening star., 1915-03-28
ROOSEVELT BACK
IN COP. TRACES
Well Authenticated Report
Says He Will Support Any
Candidate But Taft.
EVEN PREFERS BARNES
TO DEMOCRATIC RULE
Resumes Cordial Relations With
Former Associates Senator
Weeks Boom Starts.

Il will support any candidate for
President the republican national con-
vention may nominate except Taft"
This statement is attributed to Theo-
dore Roosevelt, report Of the recent ut
terance of which came to Washington
yesterday from a source entitled to
fullest credence.
And" the report goes on to quote
Mr.. Roosevelt as saying, Il don't know
but that | would even sleep in the same
political bed with William Barnes, jr..
Of New York and Boies Penrose Of
Pennsylvania, II that be necessary to
contribute to the defeat Of the demo-
cratic party"
At the same time another report
reached politicians here bearing upon
and in a way bearing out the first
mentioned and from source equally
trustworthy. 1t was to the effect that
Mr.. Roosevelt had recently resumed
cordial, almost the old-time affection
vattve republican leaders from whom
he had been at least outwardly es-
tranged since the unhappy days of
1912.
Rebukes Former Supporters.
the length of alleging that in renewing
the ties temporarily severed. Mr.. Roose-
welt had expressed in no uncertain
terms his present disapprobation \of
the ultra radicalism of some of the
men with whom he had associated him
self in the campaign which split his
party and permitted the election Of the
democratic ticket.
This report was readily believed yes
terday by politicians here who have
known for some time past that Mr..
of the companions of hfs political
bosom in 1912. 1t was recalled that
not long ago he read sharp lecture
to one of them, who had found 1t pleas
velt for his friendship-~ith George w.
Perkins on the no broader ground than
that Mr.. Perkins was in some way af
fliated with big business.
Mr. Roosevelt sternly rebuked this
attitude of mind, and plainly intimated
that he would rather part company
with the entire aggregation Of former
associates than to be party to ostra cis-
ing a man simply because he was en-
gagged in business upon a large scale.
Roosevelt in Traces.
from time to time that Mr.. Roosevelt
would not be found untractable to ef
forts to align him with the regular
republican ticket in 1916 nor turning
entirely a deaf ear to the voice of
reason"
The best informed politicians have
not entertained for moment the idea
that Mr.. Roosevelt considered the pos
sibility Of becoming candidate him
self. 1t has been their conviction based
upon expressions let fall by Mr.. Roose-
velt himself that he realized the alb
solute futility of his entering the ring.
II was surely good news to the lin
gering republican politicians in wash
ington yesterday that Mr.. Roosevelt
may be counted upon to swing into the
traces and pull Loyalty with the candi
convention, and they took ii to mean
that there is no possibility of a bolt
ing convention or third ticket of con-
sequence IN 1915. Without Mr.. Roose-
yelt. they said: and without "Bre'r
Perkins and the bar'l," there will be no
bull moose party to which either of
the old parties need pay attention
1t was said by republicans yesterday
that il will be sad blow to the demo-
Gratis when they realize that their
party indorsed by Roosevelt-has
crumbled. and that they will have to
play the game out single-handed.
Weeks Boom Started.
The facts about the frequently dis
cussed candidacy of Senator Weeks Of
Massachusetts for the republican nomi-
nation became known here yesterday,
derived from a close friend Of the sen
a tor prior to Senator Weeks departure
last night on trip to the Pacific coast,
which will entail several stopovers and
the delivery of number of addresses.
1t was declared yesterday that Sen
ator Weeks is not yet an openly
1t is true that important republicans in
Massachusetts are urging him to stand
for the nomination. But 1t is said he
regards IL as somewhat early for an
out and -out campaign for him.
His western trip. therefore, II was
He will stop OFF and make acQuaint-
ances: will discuss a number of sub
jects. but not from a partisan political
! standpoint. THE trip was originally
undertaken for pleasure and recreation
alone and he has since been invited to
make the speeches.
Senator Weeks friends know that he
is very popular with the progressive
republicans of the west. Senator Cum
MINIS, who may be fairly called their
leader. candidate himself for the
nomination, recently stated to friends
in Washington that IL a radical pro-
gressive is not to be chosen he would
be entirely satisfied with a conserve
tive of the type of Weeks and would
support Senator Weeks heartily when
nominated
Senator Weeks stay in Kansas will
he sponsored by no less a radical pro-
gressiye than ex-senator Bristow and
by the conservative Senator-elect Cur
tis. In other states OF the west he
will be cordially received by the pro-
r1y2 al