New-York tribune., 1918-07-23
Roosevelt Not
Make Race
For Governor
Pressure of War Work
His Reason for Refusing
To Be Candidate

OYSTER BAY, N. Y, July 22.-Colo-
mel Theodore Roosevelt issued state
ment tonight in which he declared that
under no circumstances would he ac-
cept the Republican nomination for
Governor of New York. The former
Pres ident made his announcement
when he sent a telegram to Attorney
General Merton f. Lewis, at Albany, in
reply to a message from the Attorney
General, sent several days ago, offer
ing to withdraw from the race if the
Colonel would become a candidate.
In his telegram Colonel Roosevelt did
not mention any of the subjects which
were taken up by the Republicans at
their convention last week He did not
refer to prohibition or woman suffrage,
nor did he propose a candidate for
Governor.
Occupied by War Work
The message follows:
Dear Mr.. Lewis = am very
genuinely touched by the spirit of your
request and I need hardly say how
much | appreciate the honor you do me.
But l cannot be a candidate for, nor
accept the nomination for, Governor of
New York.
"The position of Governor in any
state, and especially in this great and
most populous state, is one of the very
highest consequence and there is no
not to feel honored to have the chance
of filling it. Rut the duties of tho
place are not only Of the highest i'm
portance, but are also very exactng
and onerous and demand all of any
mans time and energy, and whoever
occupies the place should devote him.
self wholeheartcdly to the work and
therefore, his heart and soul and brain
should be wholeheartedly in the work
This was true of me twenty years ago
when I became Governor of New York.
1t is not and cannot be true of me now.
For the last four years my whole
being has been absorbed in the consid-
Grafton of the tremendous problems,
national and international, created by
the war. l have thought of them and
dweit on them in my mind to the ex-
clusion of all other subjects. | could
not turn from them with any heart to
deal with any other subjects, even the
domestic problems of this great state,
deeply though I appreciate the vital
Importance of these problems.
Prepares for Peace
"My work is for the men who are
fighting in this war. Ny mind dwells
continually on the problems of the war,
on the international problems of the
peace which is to close and justify the
war, and on the tremendous problems,
social and industrial, with which we
shall be faced after the war is ended.
"This being so, the very fact of my
intense appreciation of the magnitude
of the New York State interests with
which the Governor of New York State
must deal forbids my undertaking
task to which I could not bring the
whole of whatever strength and
thought and ability l possess. Again
alton and with very zeal regret, l am
"THEODoRE ROOSEVELT"
Round Robin Was Ready.
A round robin letter signed by
many Republican leaders during
Saratoga meeting, urging Mr.. Roose
sented to him this week. 1t based
its plea on the fact that New York
needs above all else real "war Gov
ernor" at the present crisis.
Calling attention to the critical situ
alton that now exists in the party, the
letter pointed out that the campaign in
the state must be fought out on broad
lines OF national policy, with special
attention paid to any attempt to per
vert feeling for the war into anarchy
or Bolshevism.
Can't Trust Democrats.
The Democratic party, the letter
said, Cannot be trusted to resist the
insidious poison of pacihsm." The let
ter concluded:
"After thorough survey of the field
we have concluded that none of the
three avowed candidates can fully meet
the requirements of this extraordinary
situation. Past differences merely po-
litical must disappear. The campaign
requires a great public figure.
"The highest public interest demands
great war Governor, and he must be
Republican, for the welfare of the
ration demands that the Republican,
party should be preserved and strength
ened for the performance of the grea.
patriotic tasks that await it, Under
such circumstances we invoke your
many times dem orstratcd patriotism
and ask you to make the personal sac
rifce which a return to the office of
Ccynrror will nntailW