Salt Lake Tribune | 1916-05-02 | Page 3 | roosevelt Issues Another Statement

ROOSEVELT ISSUES 10MIEMT Says He Ought Not to Be Nominated Unless People Are Ready to Follow. NEW YORK, May 1. Colonel Theodore Theo-dore .Roosevelt, on his return here tonight to-night from Chicago, issued a statement expressing gratification with the reception recep-tion or! his views on " preparedness, national na-tional dutv and Americanism ' ' in the middle west. Mr. Roosevelt declared he is not interested in the political fortunes for-tunes of himself and others, and, after outlining the principles advocated in recent re-cent speeches, said: It cannot be said too often that this is a time of crisis in the nation na-tion 's career. We are now laying down the foundation and the controlling con-trolling lines of a new era in our history. Everything T can do will he done to see that the people, east and west, realize the facts and act accordingly. By no act of mine, by no word of mine, has this grave question been involved in factional politics. Jn every state in which the law governs such matters I have promptly withdrawn my name from all factloral struggles. In a cable message from Trinidad on March 9, ' last, I requested and insisted that my friends in Massachusetts refrain from such contest, and I would have invoked the law there as I' did in other states if there had been such a law. In that statement I also said that T was not interested in the political fortunes either of myself my-self or others, and T have resolutely stuck to that determination. I havo not expressed and do not intend to express myself as being for or against any man. As regards myself, I do not believe be-lieve that the delegates ought to nominate me at Chicago unless they are prepared whole-heartedly and without reserve to make the fight along the lines above outlined. I am fighting for certain great and vital principles. Those who take their stand in such a matter because of factional or personal prejudice are either lacking in patriotism or else are blind to the tremendous forces at work the world over. In the midst of a tragedy without parallel par-allel in the world's vision, the work to be done is not that of the politician, poli-tician, but of the patriot. i For that reason I most earnestly J hope that the delegates who go to Chicago will nominate some man on whom Republicans and Progressives Progres-sives can combine, and who, moreover, more-over, can be heartily supported by ail independent citizens, and par-, tieularlv by all independent Democrats Demo-crats who are loyal to the nationalism national-ism of Andrew Jackson and who are prepared to put the vital honor and interest of this nation above all mere partisan considerations. I hope tliey will choose a man upon whom al! can unite, and who, if elected, we can be absolutely certain cer-tain will put the principles "above set forth into actual eftect in the government of the country.