Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1910 — NEW YORK FIGHT DISRUPTS PARTY [ARTICLE]

NEW YORK FIGHT DISRUPTS PARTY

Col. Roosevelt May Not Attend The State Convention. REPUBLICANS FACING DEFEAT This Fact, It Is Said, Has Decided Col. Roosevelt Not to Become Involved In Factional Fight In N. Y. State Matters. '.'O. ' •< . -'■> W; Oyster Bay, N. Y., Aug. 19. —Present indications from Sagamore Hill point to either a bitter fight against the administration at the Saratoga convention, led by Mr. Roosevelt or the complete absence of the colonel on that occasion. If there had been doubt as to the break between President Taft and Mr. Roosevelt it would have vanished when several important political visitors rusned to the hill and held a long pow wow. It was evident at the departure of County Chairman Lloyd C. Griscom, Collector .William Loeb, Jr.. Congreeman Cocks, Naval Officer Frederick H. Kracke and Representative Wm. H. Calder, that there had been big doings on the hill.

Mr. Roosevelt is in an odd position. He is not anxious to buck the administration, because he wants to wait until later on when the national situation will loom up so much greater than the New’ York slate situation. He said again that he is pleased over the action of the state committee in turning him down as temporary chairm/tn, for If he had been forced into the chair he might be held responsible for the defeat that appears to be imminent, unless there are swift and unforeseen changes. No one here is wiser to the fact that the Republican party in this state is torn by factional disputes than T. R.

In case the old guard does goes to Saratoga and tries to undo what it has already done, which is mighty doubtful, they might realize that with New York lost the colonel would be a good man to captain the sinking ship and go down with it. For that reason he believes that he had better wait and make his onslaught of a national character. which will be effective in 1812. It is by no means settled that T. R. will not be a candidate in 1912. He has not said that he would refuse the nomination if he got it. The Impression was gathered from Mr. Roosevelt that he had consented very much against his inclination to give his aid. if it was, desired, being perfectly well aware that if he did it, he might be held accountable for the defeat: that the aid was refused in a way that would make it look as if Mr. Roosevelt were making a factional fight which could he construed as being against the administration, if he acted further in the matter, and as Mr. Roosevelt does not doprn it either wise or proper to permit himself to become involved in such a factional fight, his present impression is that he will not go to the convention or take any part which Would render him responsible. He has come to no definite conclusion in the matter, but from what his visitors said, his present judgment seems to be as indicated. Mr. Roosevelt refuses to discuss the situation.