Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24
PRESIDENT GRATIFIED
RECEIVES LETTER WITH PHOTO
GRAPH OF LARGE FAMILY.
Acknowledges Receipt and Congratu-
on Subject Of Race Suicide.

President Roosevelt's feelings on the sub
ject of large families. though not having
reached the stage Of offering rewards, after
the fashion of the first Napoleon to the
parents of numerous offspring. has at least
resulted for him in a daily growing cor
respondence. 1t is said these m3ssiVes are
highly interesting to the President, anu
that all of them reach the executive eye
and are not relegated to the waste basket
where so much of unofficial correspondence
is forced, through lack of time, to OBJ
security.
In addition to the letters that are daily
received at the White House thousands OF
babies are fiourishing all over the coun-
try under the baptisnal name of Theodore
Roosevelt, and it is safe to say that no
man in the history of America mas ever
before been so frequently honored by par
ents as has the present occupant OF the
executive chair.
Pictures too have been sent him by the
score and perhaps the most Interesting
of these is one of a family of Washing
tonians which he received a few days ago
and which he acknowledged in letter that
will be treasured in the family for future
genera tiOnS.
Father Of Twelve.
H E. Ward, an employe of the pension
office is the happy father Of as estlns
family as can be found within the sixty
square miles of the District of Columbia
and being proud of his record and his fam
lily he indited the following letter to the
President: $500
washington D. c.. October 10. 1903.
MIR. President:
"Since it became known that you are an
advocate of large families. have been I'm.
portuned by great many people TO preseht
you with picture of my family. Whlch
now take pleasure in doing. l believe am
the only old soldier in the United states
that has twelve children living all py tne
same mother. They are all living at nome
except one who was recently married. WIN
one exception none of them have ever been
seriously sick and none have any physlcai
defects. If the real object of mans exist
ence is to glorify God and rear another gen.
Grafton my wife and feel that we are en-
titled to some consideration by the great
Father of us all. / read with very great IN
terest your address to the Catholics OF New
York delivered one Sunday last summer.
There Is no doubt in my mind but what I'M
pure speech is a great drawback 10 the
proper education and moral elevation or the
youth of this country. / wish every man ana
woman in the land could read that address.
1t certainly would have salutary erect. 1
thank you for those great utterances, the
influence of which will be felt long aIter
YOU have passed from the stage or acuon.
yours.
(Signed) H. E. WARD,
"1023 22d street.
The Presidents Response.
1t is related that the President was de-
lighted with the picture Of the fine-lookins
dozen children, and the accompanying let
ter that he sent Mr.. Ward fully verifes
this statement:
WHITE HOUSE,
"Washington. October Is, 1903.
My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 14th
instant has been received and the President
init cd in
which you inclosed. He regards your fam
lily as fine looking, and extends to yourself
and Mrs. Ward his hearty congra tulations
This is the type of citizenship which he
values highly.
Assuring you that your kindly express
sions are appreciated, l am,
Very truly yours.
lSigned) "WM. LOEB. Jr.,
Secretary to the President"