The Washington herald., 1908-05-24
By CHARLES BROOKS SMITH.

Special to The Washington Herald
Curtin, W. Va, May 2S.-Gen. George
w Curtin, better known as the 'Ium-
Der king Of West Virginia" founder OF
this mountain mill town. the most sue
eessful lumberman in West Virginia, high
in the councils Of his party. expressed
himself in an interview to-day, which
Will be Of the greatest interest and i'm
portance 10 the politics Of his own State,
and doubtless prove hardly less Interest,"
ing and important 10 Republican national
politics.
A delegate 70 the Republican national
convention, which meets at Chicago next
month. elected as a Taft man. and in
structed to vote for the Secretary OF War,
as are all fourteen delegates from West
Virginia. Gen. Curtin to-day declared that
he Intends to cast his first vote in the
convention for Theodore Roosevelt
not alone his first. either, but succeeding
votes, Il more than ore opportunity Of
fers itself 10 vote for the present occuL
D pans VI the " 44kt G1N4Se.
At the conclusion Of this surprising
statement Gen. Curtin was reminded
that he had been chosen a delegate as
Taft man and instructed to vote for
that candidate.
Taft Sentiment Artificial.
And so I was" he said. And so were
my colleagues. But we were selected not
because we were Taft men. but because
we were Roosevelt men and would favor
the candidate of his choice. There was
no genuine, heartfelt. deep-rooted senti-
ment in the convention for Taft, or any
other candidate. The so-caued Taft senu-
ment was as artificial as ii is possible
for sentiment TO be made It was a Taft
sentiment only in so far as it reflected
the known desires and wishes Of Theo-
dore Roosevelt It was a negative, not
a positive. sentiment for Taft. The posi-
tive sentiment is a Roosevelt sentiment.
I know this. and my colleagues know the
truth Of il. ana so DO the Republicans
Of West Virginia.
I have not arrived at this position
without seriously thinking about it.
know 1 Will be criticised by some. who
viii claim my position. being a delegate
instructed for Taft, IS inconsistent. analo-
gous, and possibly reasonable 10 the con-
vention's mandates. Let those who want
10 take that view and criticise me If they
wish. I feel positive. however. that the
Republicans OF this state, deep IN their
heart of hearts. feel as I DO about it. and
will approve OF my frank truthfulness,
even If some Of them may doubt my dis
erection. Indiscreet2 Possibly. II I were
a candidate for Office. or even expected
10 be. or cherished aspirations for public
honors. But am free from all Of this.
iIndiscreet? From a business and party
standpoint-no. And those are the emil
nences from which have taken my
view.
Business Interests Demand Roosevelt
\ Here is a town that have founded
and there in that mill and yonder there
in the woods are four hundred families
dependent upon me, upon my good judg-
ment in business. above all upon the
prosperity Of this country" and the gray
haired veteran developer Of the States
timber resources made an encircling
sweep Of his hand to emphasize the in
dustrial scene that stretched out along
the mountain before him. Times have
been tight. but I have kept my men at
work because must see that they have
It as long as I can. They are a response
bility to me that I cannot evade. Their
welfare is mine; mine theirs Our lives
and our fortunes are indissolubly linked
together. I know what work 10 them
means; I know what idleness for them
means. When an employer understands
that, then the politics OF his country take
on grave and serious aspect
a change in the policies OF this gov.
ernment-a change in its administration
would spell business ruin and disaster.
To prevent that without taking any
chances. can only be accomplished by the
nomination Of Roosevelt. To nominate
Taft-tO nominate anybody else-is TAX
ing a terrible risk With business condi-
tions not as they were. with men out OF
employment with Bryan probably strong
! er with the people than ever before.
there is danger OF the Republican party
; being retired from power with the re-
sultant unsettled conditions a public
mind clouded with fear and forebodings
waiting TO see what Bryan and his
erratic counseiors might do there would
be such a business depression in this
country as It has not had for half a cen
tury. with the Republican party unhors-
ed from control. I would not give 80 cents
on the dollar FOR that million dollars
worth Of property that you see before
you And Gen. Curtin pointed dramat.
lcally at the mill and the acres OF stack
ed lumber and the piles OF great logs
''No man in the nGtion-no man in The
Republican party-can prevent the danger