Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1916-04-06
THEO. ROOSEVELT
EATS WITH ROOT:
TONGUES WIGWAG
SEEMING RECONCILIATION FILLS
coLoNEL's PARTisANs WITH
NEW HOPES.
All Participants Say Preparedness,
Not Politics, Was Dis
cussed.

New York Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt had luncheon with former
Secretary of State Elihu Root at the
home of Robert Bacon yesterday and
thereby started more political talk
than he did by the Gary dinner which
he attended several weeks ago.
While Mr.. Root, Mr.. Bacon, George
w. Perkins and Colonel Roosevelt
say they discussed preparedness and
not politics. the wise ones have it
that Roosevelt's chances of securing
the republican nomination jumped
100 per cent.
First Meeting in Five Years.
1t was The first time in five years
that the former president and the for
mer chief of his cabinet had met.
They parted company in 1912 when
Root stayed by the Organization,
bucked Roosevelt at Chicago and con
trtbuted by his firm handling of the
convention as it's chairman toward
the denomination of Taft more than
any other man. Roosevelt said he
would never forgive Root though he
had formerly lauded him as the best
equipped and ablest public man Am
erica had produced in generation.
Both interested in Preparedness.
Mr.. Root did not seek a reconcilia-
tion with Colonel Roosevelt. He new
er felt that he had anything to be
reconciled about. But recent events
brought about naturally their meet
ing. Both men are intensely inter-
ested in national preparedness. Mr..
Roots speech to the republican CON
yention Of New York paved the way
for their coming together Root in
that speech made laudatory reference
to Roosevelt and Augustus P. Gard
ner. the father Of preparedness in
the house,
Called by Barnes.
At the insistence of William Barnes
these references were struck out of
the printed copies of the speech
Root wanted Barnes to get him the
New York delegation on at least a few
ballot to test the question whether
he had any chance Of the nomination
& Barnes tried but could not bring ii
about. AS pslrt Of the price for his
trying he exacted the omission of the
Roosevelt praise from the speech
Now that Root and Roosevelt have
come together again, Barnes is left
in q hard position. He will fight
Roosevelt to the bitter end, but the
reconciliation makes his job of boss
y ing New York almost impossible.
Lodge Represents Bay State.
The presence OF Senator Henry c
Lodge at the luncheon has to do Will
the Massachusetts, end of the politics
& Lodge, it is well known, would rathe
4 see Roosevelt president than anybod.
else in the world Yet he is headin,
delegate list from Massachusett
which is against a declared Roose
welt group headed by A. P. Gardner
3 This in the face of the fact tha
Gardner, when he went into the figh
for Roosevelt delegates. said he ha
Senator Lodge with him. This seen
ed to require explanation The el
p1anaticn Is That Roosevelt has re
fused to allow his name to be use
in Massachusetts, thereby insurin
the election of Lodge and the othe
uninstructed delegates, probably wit
Il an understanding that these delegate
: are to play fair with Roosevelt whe
the time comes.
Root Forecast for Premier.
The inside speculation regardin
Roots share In the reconciliation j
that Root has definitely given up a
hope of the presidency but that b
wants to be in on the next republ
can administration as secretary q
state and that with Roosevelt pres
y dent he would have the place tel
q dered him with free hand to run i
This would be the greatest opportuI
iry for service that could come t
Mr.. Root at his time OF life becaus
the next administration will probabl
see the end of the European war an
the sparring for peace terms. Beside
I the next administration will hav
one of the most notable opportul
tiles in history to make the Unite
y States world power In commercs
B Mr.. Root and Nj. Roosevelt agre
that the frst step is to quit the ten
porizing policy OF divided cOuntr
and put America first. a
Odd Fellows from Madison Egai
Wentworth, F1endreau, Tre1 De
8 ID III t1
& Fals .s assist the local Odd Fellow
4 III dedicating this afternoon ne,
326, 900 temple building which was Il
4 Gently completed. The dedication es