The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-11

Continued From First Page.)
was, an air Of fnaiity about Colonc.
Roosevelts manner this evening when
he shook hands with the correspond
ents who have been with him for the
past twelve weeks. which indicated
that the end has been reached.
For one thing. ne made a sig
nifcant remark when asked by pho
tographer toe pose for newspaper
photograph
No" he said. II am out of politics.
Nv picture no longer Interests"
There was no suggestion of bitter
ness or regret. The remark was ut
tered in commonplace tone. At the
same time one got the idea r. r. is
through. He was up all night last
night, and in almost constant touch
with Chicago OF the events leading
up to the crisis, and the collapse of his
cause. few details have been made
known. Here and there. during the
i day, hint seeped out, from which 1t
might be inferred, though there Ia no
suggestion OF this from Colonel
Roosevelt, that in the vital hour he
was betrayed
i For instance, It Is known that In
+ the earl% dawn of this morning Sec
rotary Hayes summoned the Colonel.
who had fallen asleep at his desk, to
answer long distance summons from
, Chicago.
; At the Chicago end of the wire were
/ two members OF the Progressive COM
mitteo on harmony and one member
of the Republican committee. The
situation was explained to the Colonel
as 1t existed at that hour, and he was
implored to make one more effort to
bring about harmony. The situation
was discussed from every angle, and
/ at length the Colonel agreed to send
the message. which was made public
a few hours later, offering Henry
/! Cabot Lodge as a compromise candt-
date whom he would be willing to
support The Republican conference
committeeman agreed to Join in,
recommending Lodge and then went
into thu, Republican convention at IL
O'Clock and cast his ballot for
Mr.. Isooseveit's Statement.
Possibly it would not have mattered
anyhow. Yet Il is a fact that in the
hour that Roosevelt offered Lodge as
a compromise candidate he eliminated
himself from consideration by the Re-
publicans without making the nomi-
nation of Lodge possible.
About 2 o'clock the news was
flashed that Hughes had been nomi-
mated by the Republicans. which was
followed Immediately by news that
| Roosevelt had been nominated by
the Progressives Colonel Roosevelt
was informed OF these two events
by Assistant Secretary Hayes. He
declined to make any statement
At 9;i5 p. NJ. Justice Hughes
statement accepting the nomination
When a complete copy OF 1t was In
hand, Colonel Roosevelt was again
communicated with. Once more he
declined to comment.
Then began the final series of con-
ferences, not only over the long dis.
lance wire, but in the family circle.
At half-past o'clock Colonel
Roosevelt announced over the tele-
phone that he would receive the cor
respondents. He descended the stairs
from the gunroom. from which his
fight had been conducted, with char
4 acteristic light tread, and as he en-
tered the library he smiled at the
group. several of whom had been his
close friends throughout his political
career. He took each man by the
hand now and greeted him warmly,
apologizing that there were not seats
enough for all His manner was
calm. There was nothing to indicate
that he had made the decision which
inevitably retlres him from politics
writes fnis to his political career.
The hands OF the clock pointed to
exactly 6 O'Clock. His first words told
the story.
AT this last meeting OF the cabi-
net, said he, in substance, pausing as
he smiled. there Ia nothing that !
can saH-absolutely nothing. am
afraid
Your offices have already received.
| suppose. the statement / have sent
TO the Progressive national commit
tee informing them that l am not &C
quainted with the views of the Re-
/ publican convention, / must decline
the Progressive nomination until the
Progressive committee has had time to
learn the views of Justice Hughes If.
after the committee has become fully
acquainted with Justice Hughes
views, they still desire me to run, the
matter can be taken up"
In response to an inquiry, Colonel
Roosevelt said he had sent this state
ment to the Progressive national com
mittee before he had received a copy
OF Justice Hughes statement accept
ing the Republican nomination.
viii you make any comment on
the Hughes statement" was asked.
Not a word" was the reply. 'In
fact" he added, II will add nothing
to the statement l have sent to the
national committee I have nothing
more to say"
Good-byes were said. and looking
/ back the last group of correspondents,
as their motor car rode away from
ihe house, saw through the library
window Mrs Roosevelt. smiling gra-
riously. and at her side. looking over
her shoulder at book she held in
her hand. Theodore Roosevelt, private
citizen.