The Detroit times., 1908-09-14
ROOSEVELT TELLS
WHY TAFT IS HIS
LOGICAL HEIR
IN LETTER TO OlDTIME MON
TANA FRIEND, PRESIDENT AT.
TEMPTS TO SHOW WHY BRYAN
SHOULD NOT BE ELECTED.

OYSTER BAY, n. Y, Sept. IA
President Roosevelt, In a letter 4
Conrad Kohrs. OF Helena, Mont. al
jldtime friend. answers VIM. Jer
nings Bryan's statement that he |
The presidents logical heir and SUE
cessor"
The letter says:
| have naturally a peculiar~~in-
terest in the success of Mr.. Taft,
and in seeing him backed BIZ ma
jority In both houses OF congress
which Will heartily support his poll
icies For the last ten years, while
| nave been governor OF New York
and president, | have been thrown
into the closest intimacy with him.
and he and | have on every essen
tai point stood in hcartiest agree
ment, shoulder TO 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 de-
cency and fair dealing which have
Wagcd in which | have not had his
heartiest and most effective sym
pathy and support, and the policies
for which ! stand are his policies
as muCn as mine.
1t rs not possible in the space
Of tins Letter 10 discuss all the many
and infinitely varied questions OF
moment Of which Mr.. Taft as pres
ident would have TO deal: let him
be judged by what he has himself
done. and by what the adminlstra-
ton. in which he has played so
conspicuous a part, has done. But
10 illustrate just what his attitude
Is. lot me touch on two matters
now prominent in the public mind.
Trusted tn Exact Justice.
w To D. a
justice from the railroads for the
very reason that he can be trusted
TO do justice to the railroads. The
railroads are the chief instruments
of interstate commerce in the coun-
try. and they can neither be held to
a proper accountability on the one
hand nor given proper protection
on the other, save by the affirma-
tive action OF the federal govern
ment.
This railroad problem Is itself
one Of the phases OF one OF the
greatest and most intricate prob
lens OF our civilizations; for It's
proper solution we need not merely
honesty and courage, but judg-
mcnt. good sense and entire fair
mlndedness. Demagogy in such a
matter Il as certain to work evil
as corruption Itself. The man who
promises 10 raise the wages OF rail-
road employees To the highest point
and at the same time to reduce
rates 10 the lowest point, is prom
Using what neither he nor anyone
else can perform. and II the effort
To perform IL were attempted dis
aster would result to both shipper
and wage worker, and ruin to the
business interests of the country.
The man TO trust I'm such n matter
IS this Is the man who. like Judge
Taft. does not promise too much.
but who could not be swayed from
the path OF duty by any argument,
by any consideration.
What is here said as to his atti-
tude on the railway question APP
plies TO the whole question OF the
trusts. He Will promise nothing
on this subject unless he firmly
believes he can make his promise
good.
II there is one body OF men more
than another whose support feel
] have right TO challenge on be-
half OF Secretary Taft II is the
body OF wage-workers OF the coun-
try. A stancher friend. a fairer
and truer representative, they can
not find within the borders OF the
United states.