Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-09-19
GIVES OUT LETTER
FROM ROOSEVELT
President Urged Congressman to
Enter Race For Mayordlty In
Order to Properly Exploit
Plan 6f0ood Government
For Cities.

Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 19.-Con-
gresham Theodore e. Burton has is
sued a statement discussing the So
called national phases of the COM
Ing municipal election in Cleveland.
in which he Is the republican nomi-
nee for mayor, and making public
for the first time the letter of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, who urged him to
accept the local republican leader
shin IN OPPOSITION to Mayor Tom L.
Johhson, 8ir. Burton's statements
Including the letter Of the president
is as follows: -
IAN erroneous impression has gone
forth that the mayoralty campaign
here Is to an exceptional extent COM
plicated with national politics. Such
Is not the cassi The all-suficient
cal situation. Unless 1 am grossly
deceived, existing conditions under
the present city administration de-
mand immediate and radical reform.
The aim of the campaign in which
am engaged Is to redeem the city OF
Cleveland from the administration OF
a ring.
Cheap Car Fares.
''The specious claim has been
made that the main desire of the
present administration Is to give the
people of Cleveland cheap street car
fares. Under cover OF this slogan
there has been built up In the city
of Cleveland a tremendous political
machine. Every department and
agency of the city government has
been utilized to perpetuate its pow
er. Favors have been granted and
bargains made wherever political
support could be obtained. Influences
are being exerted through political
and building departments among
contractors who have dealings with
the city and among an army OF city
employees with an arbitrariness and
a resort to questionable methods new
er surpassed in any American mu-
uicipalty.
Burton's Proclaimed Aim.
"It Is not the object of those who
stand with me on the ticket to SUBJ
stitute one political ring for another,
but to give a better administration
20 the City of Cleveland-one not
subversive of the fundamental ideas
Of popular control and in which all
interests, including street railway
corporations, shall be treated with
out favor or prejudice.
II should have been extremely
reluctant to have turned aside from
national politics without the approv-
al of President Roosevelt and Sec
retaries Taft and Garfield. For this
=
each of them. Their friendly advice
has come to me on my solicitation,
and there has been no attempt at
interference. Following is the let
ter received from President Roose-
welt:
OYSTER BAY. l.. l.. Aug. 30.
1907.-My Dear Mr.. Burton: You
put hard question to me in your
letter to Mr.. Loeb. There are GER
tain qualities of leadership you pos-
sess which could not be supplied by
anyone else in the house. and you
have a mastery of certain subjects
such as no other man I'm the house
can hope to attain. For you to leave
the house, therefore. would mean
that in certain lines of leadership
there would he a loss that cannot be
made up. 1 would. therefore, be
tempted to protest against your leav-
ing If IL were not for my profound
sirable that you should win out as
mayor of Cleveland. In view of the
fact that our democratic system un-
dergoes its most severe strain in the
government of our cities, l feel that
II Is Of the utmost importance to
nave man OF your experience, pow
er and your long training, theOret-
cal and practical experience in pub
Tic life take such position as that
OF the mayoralty Of Cleveland Ac-
cordingly If you ask my advice /
should say make the fight. With all
good wishes, believe me faithfully
yours. yo4s.,> -
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Both Secretaries Taft and Gar
field have strongly advised me to
enter the contest for the mayoralty,
the former by letter and telegram,
the latter in personal conversation"