The Washington herald., 1906-12-11
STORERS SAY THEY
AIDED ROOSEVELT
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

service. AS for his department itself, it
is at the present time the most important
in the entire government.
" IT would be public calamity to have
him leave the Cabinet now. and use the
words public calamity" advisedly He is
a sick man. and his condition gives me
great uneasiness, not because there is the
least fear Of his death. but lest he may
have 10 give up his work here II he went
out I should have to consider nothing
whatever but the question of getting the
best man the entire country afforded to
do the work necessary TO be done
- It may be that after carefully looking
over the matter I should conclude that
Bellamy was the best man for the pur-
pose it may be that / should have to
conclude that some one else. OF whom /
have no thought at present, would be the
best man. and If so, ! should be in honor
bound to take him, and not 20 consult
any personal preference of mine In a
matter so vital to the country.
IS i do not believe that Secretary Long
intends to leave the navy For this de-
partment, I am sure. without further
thought. that Bellamy would be admira-
bic: but I'm filing any vacancy I'm the
Cabinet I would have 10 take note of all
kinds Of considerations I should count
BeIlamys religion in his favor for a Cabi-
net place
Wanted Catholic I'm Cabinet.
other things being equal. should like
to have a Catholic in the Cabinet. 7 am
sure that in the Navy Department ne
would do exceedingly well as Secretary
I do not know whether. geographically.
ne will be the right man. For instance.
I should like much TO get a Pacific Slope
man into the Cabinet, and particularly
in the navy, and / do not wish to leave
New England unrepresented.
d" AT present see no Pacific Slope men
who would be competent to fill the posi-
ton. Moreover, II possible, / should like
to get one or more members Of the Cabi-
net who are IN close touch with the peo-
pie carrying weight when they explain
the policies, purposes. and acts Of my ad-
This is the one point in
which the present Cabinet is not as strong
as 1t should be.
" I do not believe that a finer. ADLER.
more high-minded body Bf public servants
was ever gotten together around a Presi-
dent; but there is no one of them. with
the possible exception Of RoOt-whO is so
busy that he can hardly ever speak-who
can appear before the country with the
prestige Of a great political leader to ex-
plain and champion my administration.
II I could at any time fiji this want, I
should most ardently desire to do so.
" In other words. for a Cabinet place
the man should If possible. be not only
eminently ht for the administration OF
his department, but also. if possible. a
party leader of weight, and furthermore.
Il is rarely that one can iii a Cabinet
position with reference only to itself-au
surrounding conditions must be taken
into account
An Appreciation of Porter.
Now. as to foreign affairs. my inquir-
les speedily developed the fact that
Catholic would not be a man whom ii
would be wise 70 send to Germany For
wholly different reasons it would be un-
wise TO send him 20 Italy. ] had not
thought of or known either Of these facts
when ] advocated Bellamys going TO
Italy. As soon as l made inquiry as 10
the effect both here and abroad OF ap-
pCintments 10 Germany and Italy. I
found what the facts were. In no other
court would the question OF Catholicism
cause any serious trouble: but I have not
the slightest idea whatever whether any
man intends at present TO leave his posi-
ton
d" OF Porter. In France, I hear nothing
but the strongest praise. He seems %
have done peculiarly well. II would be
an injustice of a fragrant Kind TO turn
him out at the present time il is OF
course always possible that ! may make
"a shift. and If In doing so France should
become vacant. I should offer il 20
Beliamy at once. unless IL happened that
/ was able To offer him a Cabinet posi-
tion; bat as things are. just at this pres
ent time l do not see the likelihood Of
such "a condition arising. / have
written with the minEtest details, for I
want you 10 understand exactly how
things now stand
" Faithfully yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Insists lie Ans Inafructed