The Washington times., 1916-04-09
Weeks EXPECTED
TO WITHDRAW IN
ROOSEVELT'S FAVOR
Retirement Of Massachusetts,
! Senator Seen in Conference
! Of His Managers. d
STANDS ON TRINIDAD TALK
BY PERRY ARNOLD.

BY PERRY ARNOLD.
OYSTER BAY. N. Y. April 9.-sen-
ator John w. Weeks. Massachusetts, Re-
publican aspirant for Presidential hon
ors, may be ready to step aside In favor
OF Roosevelt.
That is the construction placed by
/ Roosevelt adherents on the fact that
Charles @. Washburn, generally known
as Weeks campaign manager, with
George Won L. Meyer, former Secretary
Of the Navy and known heretofore as
Weeks booster, had a lengthy confer
ence with Colonel Roosevelt yesterday.
At It's conclusion Meyer came out OPEN
ly for Roosevelt as the Republican can
didate.
"It is my belief" Meyer said. with
world conditions as they exist today
that Mr.. Roosevelt will be the psycho-
logical candidate, and that public sem
timent 10 rolling up In that direction.
His experience in the past, his extensive
knowledge OF affairs and Of men, not
only in this country. but abroad, makes
him the most available man.
Opposes Gardner Movement.
"As to MaEsachusetts-I am not In
sympathy with the Gardner-Cushing
movement. As has been shown by Mr..
Roosevelt's statement, II was started
without his knowledge and consent, and
their activities have created a factional
contest that might jeopardize the Re-
publican candidates reelection as gov
ernor, and even complicate or embarrass
Senator Lodges reelection, which Is OF
vital Importance to the State and even
to the nation"
rs Senator Weeks preparing to With; n,
draw in favor OF Colonel ROOSEVELT
Washburn was asked.
IT have not been in Washington
lately and most of the news comes
from there" the former Messachu-
setts representative countered.
'T have nothing to add to the Trim
idad statemnt," the colonel said
'In that statement l said that | dis
approved OF any factional tight being
made in my interest either In Massa-
chusetts or elsewhere and that any
such factional fight was begun with
out my knowledge and would be con-
tinued without my acquiescence.
"I have stood and now stand on that
statement, in Massachusetts, as well
as In every other State. While In
Boston do not intend to see any man
interested in either side in the pri-
The famous Root Bacon dinner was
held March 81. 1t gave foundation
for the belief among Roosevelt sup
porters that Root-who presided at
among those charged by Roosevelt
with the theft" OF the Republican
nomination-had renewed fealty to
his former chief
Like Get Together" Session.
with Weeks aspirations for a Mas
sachusetts delegation at Chicago next
June seriously menaced by a recent
statement from the four candidates
for delegates-at-large announcing
their support of Roosevelt, the meet
ing of the Weeks forces with the
colonel took on the aspect of another
healing" movement between the Bull
Moose and the Republicans.
The colonel paused In his confer
ences last evening long enough to
make answer to questions raised by
several editors regarding what POSI-
tion he would have taken II he were
now President
TT is now Impossible for me to answer
hypothetical questions In editorials" he
said. IF I did II in one case ! should
have to do 1t In hundreds of cases. A
correct Judgment can ne formed by taxi
Ing what actually did during the seven
and a half years 1 was President, and
IL any man has forgotten how handled
International matters during that time
let him turn to Mr.. Hard's article on
the subject in the current number Of the
III
has forgotten what my attitude as
President Vas on the subject Of pre-.
paredness. let him turn to Charles G.
Washburn's recently-published biography
or me. pages IS to 1Os. and particularly
to the quotations from my message to
Congress-. given on pages 1o6 to 1os."
Tho passages cited by the colonel
showed these cardinal beliefs:
Colonel's Cardinal Beliefs.
"A wanton or useless war or a war
OF mere aggression is to be condemned
as a peculiarly atrocious crime agains,
humanity."-From one o. the c6senel's
speeches.
"One of the prime dangers OF civiliza-
tion always has been its tendency Ia
cause the loss OF virile fighting virtues
fighting edge."-Another T. r.. aphor.
ism.
The Roosevelt message to Congress,
or April IL. 1908. which demanded q
tained the sentence Declaration against
mihtarism has no more place thar
defamation against Ball or Astraoth.'
Washburn's own summary OF Roose
vets preparedness beliefs that tn,
United States should behave towart
other nations as strong and self-re
specting man should behave towarC
other men with whom he is brought II
contact-in other words, speak softi,
and carry a big stick"
Besides Washburn and Meyer, tn
coloncPs other visitors today were DR.
Lyman Abbott and his sons, Lawrenc
ana Ernest, and Regis II. Post. formerl!
governor of Porto Rico.
Democrats of Keystone
Cknko AI.~ TIL. GIL. .