Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-12
Roosevelt Formally Enters
Race For Presidential
Nomination.
PREPAREDNESS is
PARAMOUNT ISSUE
Work Of Roosevelt Non-Par,
tisan League and Will Seek Nomi-
nation in Two Convsntions-Asks For
Armament Fit For Nations Needs
Talk Of Compromise Candidate
4 viii Meet Opposition. -,..

Oyster Bay, L.. l., May l2.-ColoHe'
Theodore Roosevelt has formally en-
tered the race for the presidential
nomination of the republican and pro-
gressive parties at the conventions IN
Chicago. In a letter addressed to Guy
Emerson, secretary Of the Roosevelt
Non Partisan League, which was or
ganized to try to obtain his nominal
tion by q reunited party. Colonel Roose-
velt states that he, approves of what
the league is doing 'sN
The Roosevelt letter places an en-
tirely new complexion upon the pollt-
ical situation and has put aside the
reports that the colonel was ready to
work for the nomination Of this or
that candidate. One sentence was con-
sidered especially significant, as it was
generally believed to refer to Justice
Hughes, whom, according to many in
spired stories, Roosevelt and the pre-
gressive party were ready to accept.
The sentence reads: ." I do not have
to improvise my convictions on either
Americanism or preparedness"
I. Insists on Preparedness.
Colonel Roosevelt begins his letter
by saying 1t would be unwise to nomin-
ate him unless 1t was with the full un-
derstanding that such nomination
meant the Endorsement of the principles
set forth in his Chicago speech. Con-
tinuing, he writes: ..
Il g, Il do not have to lmprovise my con-
victions on either Americanism or
preparedness. have fought for them
all my life long and when ! was presi-
dent I translated my convictions con-
them into governmental poll
Icy The events OF the last two years
In Europe and of the last four or Ave
years In Mexico have brought tnto
vivid relief the vital need Of prepared
ness. and the sinister revival OF the
politico- racial hyphen IN our politics
has emphasized the need of stern in
sistence on thorough going Americans
ism within our own borders"
! " Armament Fit For Needs.
1--WE ask for an armament fit for
the nations needs" the letter goes
on to say. mot primarily to fight, bu.
to avert fighting as long as fighting
can honorably be averted. Peace, like
freedom, is not gift that tarries long
in the hands Of towards. g.
"Your league emphasizes its de-
votion. to these principles and sup
ports me only as representing these
principles. This is emphatically the
| proper attitude to take; and because
this is your attitude and because you
are working in this spirit, very
| earnestly approve your work.
THE safety Of this country de-
pends upon our immediate, serious and
I vigorous effort to square our words
| with our deeds and to secure our own
ma ationai rehabilitation. H.. .,<,. H..
ER Favors Self Preservation. .y
1--WE must do our duty both to our
selves and to others. and unless we
| At ourselves to guard our own rights
1--we shall be impotent TO defend the
rights of any one else. We must show
| ithat we have the rugged strength oi
character without which ease and
| luxury and material we'll being rep
sent nothing but promise Of national
| Disaster Z MI
"Our present troubles with Mexico
and Germany are the direct result oi
! our utter failure to prepare and our
governmental policy OF almost unbe-
lieyable timidity Iand vacillatlon A
policy gOk ViSQEousS PiePt1i eoheSS al"
courteous but Immediate insistence on
our rights from the very beginning OF
the war would, instead Of being pro-
lvocative, have prevented all chance OF
trouble. & @
( Even II peace should now come in
Europe 1t would, nevertheless, re-
main our high duty to realize our
own culpable shortcomings and enter
on q course Of far-reaching prepared
ness--preparedness in things military
to free us from all danger of attack
from without, and Preparedness In
matters social and Industrial, SO as "a
make-@us really At for the work OF
peace within our own borders.
Il am glad and proud, as an Amer
lean, that you are fearlessly and ef-
ficiently backing these ideals"
nn NAV oEnEo nEAn