The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-14
Letter to KohrS Taken to Be
Result of Action by
Leaders of @. O.P.
Nations Head Declares He
Knows No Man More
Honest Than Ohioan.

NEW YORK, Sept. 14-Politicians III
New York, as Well as throughout the
country, were not surprised at the let
ter that was given out by President
Roosevelt. advocating the election Of
Taft and declaring the Republican can
didate 10 be labOr's best friend.
As a matter Of fact II Is not too much
TO say that notwithstanding the con-
slant denials that have emanated from
Sycamore Hill and the executive Of
fees at Oyster Bay, the keen political
observers would not be greatly sur
prised 70 see the President enter the
political arena in person. instead OF by
pen, before the campaign is over.
Great pressure has been brought to
bear on Mr.. Roosevelt to get him 10
take an active public part in the cam
Daign- Chairman Hitchcock. it is pretty
well known, has been impOrtuning the
President 20 take The stump. and the
general impression Is that the letter
just made public comes as the result
OF the constant efforts of the G. o. p.
leaders to get the President to become
a more predominant factor in the cam
ground that since Taft was nominated
at his insistence. it Is no more than
right that he should do Just as much
as he can to make election certain.
The letter is a comprehensive affair.
and Enthusiastically Rooseveltian;
thorough. to the point, and bristling
with interest.
With the letter there was given out
this explanatory paragraph about Mr.
Kohrs:
Conrad Rohrs. of Helena. Mont, is
an Old-time Montana cattle man and
one Of the most prominent citizens OF
Montana. He and the President came
into close relationship more than TWEEN
~ years ago, when they were both
members Of the Montana Stock Growers
Association, the President being at that
time the representative Of the Little
Missouri Stock Growers in the assOcia-
ton. The intimacy has been kept up
ever since. Mr.. KOhrs is one OF the
pioneer citizens of the northern Rocky
mountain region and one of the men
who have taken leading part in its
great development"
This is the letter.
"sagamore Hill
oyster Bay, y. Y, Sept. 3, 1908.
MY Dear Mr.. kOnTs.
u have received your letter about the
candidacy of Mr.. Taft, the man who /
feel is in an especial sense the repre-
sentative Of all that in which l most
believe IN political life.
THE true friend Of reform, the true
Zoe of abuses, is the man who steadily
.pCrseveres in rightng wrongs, in war
ring against abuses, hut whose chaTac-
ter and training are such that he never
promises what he cannot perform. that
ne always a little more than makes
good what he does promise, and that,
while steadily advancing, he never per
rT1frE q
cEsses which would damage the very
cause he champions.
Combines All Qualities.
In Mr.. Taft we have man who
combines all OF these Qualities 10 de-
gree which no other man in our pub
Aic life since the civil war has sur
passed. To a flaming hatred Of injus-
tice, to a scOrn Of all that is base and
mean, 70 A hearty sympathy with the
oppressed, he unites entire disinterested-
ness. courage. both moral and physical.
Of the very highest type. and a kindly
generosity Of nature which makes him
feel that all Of his fellow-countrymen
are in very truth his friends and broth
ers, that their interests are his, and
that all his great qualities are TO be
spent with lavish freedom in their SER
vice
The honest man Of means, the honest
and law-abidinE business man, can feel
safe IN his hands, because Of the very
fact that the dishonest man Of great
wealth, the man who swindles o. robs
his fellows. would not so much as dare
10 defend his evil-dOing in Mr.. Taft's
presence. The honest wage-worker, the
honest labOriug man, the honest farmer,
the honest mechanic, or small trader,
or man OF small means. can feel that in
a peculiar sense rfr- Taft will be his
representative because Of the very fact
that he has the same scOrn for the
demaSogue that he has for the cOrrUp-
ZIONIST, and that he would front threats
Of personal violence from a mob with
the unQualifying and lofty indifference
with which he would front the bitter
anger Of the wealthiest and most DOW
erful corporations. Broad though his
sympathies are, there IS in him not the
slightest tinge OF weakness
Could Not Swerve Him.
mo consideration Of personal inter
est, any more than of fear for his per
sonaI safety. could make him swerve a
hairs breadth from the course which
he regards as right and in the interest
Of the whole people.
Il hav4 naturally a peculiar interest
in the success OF Mr.. Taft, and in seeing
him backed by a majority in both houses
Of Congress which will heartily support
his policies. For the last ten years,
while I have been governor of New
York and President 1 have been thrown
into the closest intimacy with him, and
he and I have or every essential point
stood in hearuest, agreement, shoulder
10 shoulder. We have the same views
as to what is demanded by the national
interest and honor, both within our own
borders and as regards the relations of
this nation with other nations. There is
no fight for decency and fair dealing
which I have waged in which 1 have
not had his heartiest and most effective
sympathy and support, and the policies