“I want to withdraw my name for a number of reasons,” he continued.  “The first is that I want the country at large to get the correct impression of this meeting here.  We are gathered together for a very high purpose.  I want every American through the length and breadth of this land to realize that there isn’t a man in this convention who is seeking anything for himself personally; that all of us are working simply for the good of the entire country.  I believe, furthermore, that what we want here is someone who has been connected with the movement only since it started on this side of the water, someone who originates from the convention.”

The din started again.

“No, no, gentlemen,” shouted the Colonel.  “I want to withdraw.  It is my earnest wish.  It is my absolute determination.”

But the caucus seemed equally determined.  “We want Teddy!” “We’re going to have Teddy!” “You got this thing going, you ought to run it.”  Colonel Roosevelt paced up and down the stage, trying his best to silence them.  Then, during the din, one by one some of his oldest friends went to him and begged him to accede to the crowd’s wish.  “Take it Ted,” they urged.  “Take it.”  That underslung jaw of the young Colonel’s became rigid.

“I won’t do it.  I can’t do it,” he answered.

Then someone managed to make a motion that the nomination of Colonel Roosevelt be made unanimous.  It was seconded and made extremely unanimous.

[Illustration:  Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.]

[Illustration:  Group on the Stage at St. Louis Caucus]

“Then, gentlemen, I accept and I resign,” Colonel Roosevelt said.  “I want quiet for a moment here on this situation.  This is something that I have thought about and have given my most earnest consideration.  I am positive I am right on it.  We must not have creep into this situation, in which we all believe from the bottom of our hearts, the slightest suspicion in the country at large.  I don’t think there is any suspicion among us that anyone is trying to use it for his personal advancement.  But it is absolutely essential that this spirit be proven.  I am going to stick by this from the beginning down to the very end because, in my opinion, we have got to create to-day the impression all over the country on which this organization will carry on and serve a great purpose for years to come.”

Again there were outbursts of applause for the Colonel.  “We want Teddy!” “We want Teddy!” the crowd cried again and again.  Men ran to the stage from the orchestra seats and even from the second balcony.

“Take it, Colonel.  You ought to take it,” they urged.

What the Colonel answered couldn’t be heard but the jaw was working and the head was shaking vigorously.

A couple of newspaper men dashed up to him.

“You oughtn’t to take it, Colonel,” one of them whispered.  “If you don’t, it will give the lie to those who are saying the Legion is being conducted for your special political benefit.”