The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-04-06
LAYS DOWN PLATFORM
Roosevelt Says He Need Not
Be Expected to Pussy-foot
on Single Issue.
MUST BE TO HELP NATION
Declares Way for U. S. to Hold Up
Head Is to Be Prepared to Back
Up All 1t Says.
Special to The wsshinstou Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Oyster Bay, N. Y, April 5.-Col Roose-
velt's hat is in the ring. There Is no
longer any doubt OF that. He announced
the terms under which he would be the
telling a political caller, who expects to
be delegate to the Republican national
convention. not to nominate him II he
expects the Colonel to pussy-foot on a
single issue he has raised, or unless he
thinks the nomination Is in the interests
Of the United States.
This visitor was a man from a nearby
State, who came to Sycamore Hill say
ing that he expected to be a candidate
for Congress as well as a delegate to
the G. o. P. convention. Then, in hopes
Of the Coloners support of his Congress-
ional candidacy, the optimistic pilgrim
added, You know. Colonel, I may make
up my mind that wen have to nominate
you
Colonel Traces His Ring.
Well" began the Colonel, pausing a
moment to gather his strength before
letting loose, now let me give you a
piece Of advice. II you have any doubts
on the subject, do not nominate me.
Get it perfectly clear in your head
that II you nominate me, II must not
be because you think 1t is in my interest,
but because you think 1t Is IN your inter
est, and the interest of the Republican
party. and because you think II is IN
the interest OF the United States 10 do
so.
And more than that, don't you do 1t
If you expect me to pussy-foot on any
single issue have raised. Don't be for
me unless you are prepared to say that
every citizen Of this country has got to
be pro-United States, first, last, and all
the time, and not pro-anything else at
all, and that we stand for every good
American everywhere, whatever his
birthplace or creed, and wherever he now
he be an American and nothing else, with
no hyphen about him.
Says He Is Not for War.
Il am not for war. On the contrary,
would use every honorable expedIent to
AVOID even Just war. But feel with all
my heart that you don't in the long run
avoid war by making other people be-
lieve that you're afraid to fight for your
own rights.
Uncle Sam must never wrong the
weak He must never insult any one or
wantonIy give cause for ofrense to either
the weak or the strong, and the surest
possible way to enable him to keep the
peace and to keep It on terms that will
enable Americans to held their heads
high and not hang them in shame, Is for
him to be so prepared in advance. and
! mean prepared in his ows soul, as well
os with his army and navy, that when
he says anything the rest OF the world
Will know that he means IT, and that he
can make it good.
Not Course to Bring War
Don't you try to nominate me unless
you think that's the policy that ought
to be followed out, and followed out for
your sake as well as for mine, and for
the sake Of the rest Of US here in the
United States. And don't forget that
that isn't a course that provolces war;
it Is the only course that In the long
run prevents war, and secures national
self-respect and guarantees the honor
OF this country and the rights Of its citi-
zens wherever they may be-"
With this the Colonel concluded his ad-
vice. which described exactly the dtrnen-
sions of the ring into which he had
thrown his hat, and his caller, non
pIussed BY the unexpected outburst, is
said to have said something inarticulats
and to have started in a hurry for the
railroad station.