Roosevelt Decides Taft Isn't A Factor.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 19, 1912:
A Two-Sided Fight, He Says Now, and He'll Drop the President to Attack Wilson.
BACK HOME MORE CONFIDENT
Big Meetings In Boston and Providence Satisfied Him Things Were Going as In His Primary Fight.
Special to The New York Times.
    OYSTER BAY, N. Y., Aug. 18.— Col. Roosevelt returned to Sagamore Hill today more confident than he has been at any time since he bolted the National Republican Convention and started his third-party movement. The big receptions he received in Providence and Boston on his first New England campaign, and the reports that have been coming in from his managers all over the country have led him to believe that the fight may not be a hopeless one after all. He believes President Taft is not going to be a factor in the race.
    "It is a two-sided fight," he said today, "not a three-cornered one."
    As a result of this decision Col. Roosevelt let it be known that he has about decided to drop President Taft from any further serious consideration, and devote most of his time and energy to attacking the Democrats and their platform. He believes that Gov. Johnson of California, his running mate, is a "bigger" man than either President Taft or Gov. Wilson, and is anxiously waiting to see the impression that Gov. Johnson will make in his Eastern campaigns. Gov. Johnson, the Progressives declare, has accomplished much more along progressive lines in California than has Gov. Wilson in New Jersey.
    Col, Roosevelt is refraining from direct personal attack upon Gov. Wilson, but it is evident that he is only too anxious to have the Jersey Governor start to "mix things up." That will be the signal for the Colonel to let loose, and if the occasion arises he promises a lively time of it for all concerned.
    The Colonel made reference to-day to the address delivered by Gov. Wilson at Sea Girt Saturday.
    "We are not saying that we are like the Democrats," he said. "but the Democrats are saying that they are like the Progressives. There could have been no better endorsement of the Progressive Party than that given by Dr. Wilson yesterday. He said that it is the feeling that men have gone into blind alleys and come back often enough, and that they propose to find an open road for themselves.
    "He said what was perfectly true, and it is for just that purpose, to lead people out of blind alleys, that the Progressive Party has been formed. And we have led the way in this movement."
    The big meeting in Providence and Boston, and especially the mass meeting on the Boston Common last night, which was attended by fully 20,000 people, the Colonel said, had surprised him and given a tremendous impetus to the Progressive movement
    "They were all listening intently," said the Colonel, "and there was sincere purpose in their faces. In my primary fight we reached the people. There were great crowds, and they came out afterward and voted.
    "And we won."
    "I was glad to answer, last night, the questions about Mr. Perkins and tell about Mr. Flinn. I understand that some one asked about McCormick, too. I did not hear that question, but I am glad to answer it now.
    "I suppose they meant to refer to the Harvester Company when they mentioned McCormick. My answer is that the McCormicks who are with me have not a dollar's interest in the International Harvester Company, and that the McCormicks who are interested in the company are, I understand, helping Taft or Gov. Wilson, as they properly should do."
    Col. Roosevelt will remain at Oyster Bay until Wednesday evening, when he will go to Wilkesbarre to attend the golden jubilee of Father Curran, who entertained him two years ago when he visited the anthracite coal mining district. He will have no prepared address, but will talk on the subject of moralities and good citizenship.
    After his Western trip, which ends at Memphis about Aug. 25, Col. Roosevelt will spend a week touring in the South, and will visit New Orleans, Atlanta, Ga., and other Southern cities.