The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-12
M. CLAM
THREE CABINET MEMBERS


nature. Can they not e 10Y vita
yearning l sailed TO visit our loving
sisters OF the South America? Almost
/ embraced all public men of that hem,-
sphere. Then / hurry to Canada for
more warm embraces. Yet they say,
Root, he Is the cold proposition He
is too conservative, too cool, to be our
president We must have the Bot
blood, the quick trigger NO i aAall
not be the candidate. Yet, my friend
Taft, he is the candidate. Come, let us
talk to him"
With pleasure 1 did go with NJ. Root
DOWN that corridor to the department
Of war. Here all was the hustle, the
| excitement Of kilograms and messen-
gers. Almost I thought Of war excite
ment, but NJ. Root did assure me il
was only the politics. We entered the
| cabinet Of M. Taft. Lying back in one
huge chair was one magnific2nt gea-
| tleman of the blonde sex, most az
tractively smiling. Instantly he roiied
| over and came 10 his feet. My Gea.
| Elihu." he exclaimed Come in, come
in! with you-dO not introduce, it IS
| unnecessary-with you is NJ. Clam. To
know you NJ. Clam, is my delight. I
| have read our superb letters on the
affairs American with much i~nstruc-
| ton"
Here NJ. Taft did embrace me. AL
most | expected to die from that hug.
[ had pleasure to receive his praise. |
| said, when my breath did return: 1T
is thrice agreeable to meet you, N.
| Taft, in company with NJ. Root He
is the melancholy man, Yet you can DO
much to make him happy"
His reply: "Ah, yes, Many times 1
| try to stir up the questions ~internation-
al to relieve my friend of the ennul.
| How can I serve you, Elihu?"
NJ. Root said: "Ah, yes! Many tYrdes
M. Root said: "You, my dear Bill,
are good to me. Do you think you can
make a little more trouble with the
| Japan? Since NJ. S~wettenham did DIS
appear all is O quiet. Help me, dear
colleague"
NJ. Taft's reply: With pleasure! L
shall ask NJ. Roosevelt to do something
desperate. Courage, dear Elihu! Some
thing will happen yet, if we have ener-
Cyl"
VI. Root did excuse himself with
thanks, and said: Nov [ shall return
to that Iethal chamber. [, dear Bill, am
the hermit Of the cabinet"
Poor Elihu!" exclaimed NJ. Tart,
looking at his retiring colleague. "Ah,
all men cannot be candidate for the
presidency
I said: You, M. Taft, wish to be-
come p~resident?'
His reply: IN. Roosevelt's wish -
my duty, NJ. Clam. | shall do what ne
wishes. First, permit me to thank you
for your kind words of M. Roosevelt.
In this world, when senators and cruel
ewspapers speak of blunders, almost
[ have despair to keep up with M.
Roosevelt. Yet | try hard to pre- vent
the blunder. After | am always ready
to explain how it was not the blunder,
but the stroke of unmeditated genius.
You, NJ. Clam, have perceived this, and
I have gratitude for your kindness to
NJ. Roosevelt. One Moment must
weep for my chief!'
M. Taft did turn aside weeping. l
| had distress to watch his sorrow. Yet
soon he did dry the tears, and ouc
fierce aspect Of anger elevated the
! mustache and flashed the eye Of him,
He said:
cit is the work of NJ. Foraker! He Is
to blame If all negroes do hate NJ.
Roosevelt. Yet he shall suffer. NJ.
Poncovol% Ch111 ,,co mo &C On6 cluh RI
brain this insolent senator If [ perish,
| perish. Yet Joe Foraker shall be
crushed, too"
1 said: You, then, are one candidate
if M. Roosevelt wishes?"
His reply: THAT is true. For myself,
I wish to be one judge, yet reluctantly
1 will be president if NJ. Roosevelt
thinks this will most punish Joe For
aker. Also, I cannot be Judge while
old man Fuller hangs on"
I said: eff you cannot be the chief
judge of that supreme tribunal, why
do you not make M. Roosevelt the
chief judge when you are PRESIDENT"
NJ. Taft's face did light up instantly !
with the happy smile. This" he said, +
"is the idea splendid. You, NJ. Clam,
are the genius! Why did we not think
of that? Old man Fuller, he cannot
outlive both NJ. Roosevelt and myself.
He must surrender TO one of us. NJ.
Roosevelt would be one ideal chief, he !
is so conservative, yet often inspired
by bursts of unmeditated genius. |
shall tell to NJ. Roosevelt this plan.
Nothing, I think, would please hlni
better than to furnish fresh ideas 10 !
that supreme tribunal"
Constantly NJ. Taft vas interrupted
by the telephone, the telegraph, and
the messengers with cards. Ali
people who think NJ. Taft is T. be
president are very busy making frienus
With him. With SighS he disnatched