The Detroit times., 1908-10-17
TOLD
Taft TO DECIDE
CANDIDACY
AGTTgRs SHOW EXECUTIVE RE-
FUSED TO DETERMINE FOR
l5upoE WHETHER TO ACCEPT
BENCH OR PRESIDENCY.

nj NEW IOhhs OcL it.--Copies ot let
1ors which, II IL said, passed between
{; kTosIdent Roosevelt and Secretary OF
Nh TAFT In 1906 In regard TO the Re-
|Dublican nomination for president.
twers given out for publication last
11ght by Hampton's Broadway Maya
me with the statement that they
4onld appear In It's November issue.
In the letters, marked confidential
|which the magazine says were pur-
|ohased by q correspondent. and the
Dublication OF which Is authorized. the
Dresident declines to advise Mr.. Taft
NJ the delicate question Of whether
re r. best for Mr.. Taft to 20 upon
1he supreme court bench or remain In
Ne cabinet and probably become the
Dominee Of his party for president.
There are two letters. One Is from
~o1,e president and the other Is from
III. Taft to the president. II took Mr..
TAT. according to the dates. four and
|0no-half months to make up his mind
'Whother he would be a candidate for
resident or accept Mr.. ROOSEVELT
Ter 20 make him q member OF the
'1Dpreme court.
UDce for the supreme court, but says
1haf circumstances seem 10 have Inn
&oDsd something Of a trust upon him
|Iprpcually that he could not discharge
~ accepting the supreme court APP
Dointment.
The President 20 Taft.
The letters follow In part:
(Conf1dential)
1hs White House. Washington.
F5, March 10. 1903.
Dear Wm:-I think have been
n - error 80 to your feelings. You
my that IL 10 your decided prefer
M qn0o 20 continue your present work.
This had not understood On the
u contrary, I gathered that what you
really wanted to do was TO go on
the bench. and that my. urging was
A : matter In which you were In
81 doubt m to your duty
NY dear Will. IL Ii pre-emfnently
3 take The responsibility OF deciding
for you what II right and best for
n you to do. Nobody could decide for
me whether should I. go to war TOR or
4. navy. Nobody could decide for me
whether should accept the vice.
presidency or try to continue as
man himself who II to lead his life
after having decided one way or the
va other. No one can lead that lie Tor
him. and neither he nor any one
else can AFFORD 20 have any one else
q make the decision for him: because
M the vital factor In the decision must
&: be an equation OF the man himself.
A. far N ! am personally con-
II cerned. could not put myself In
your place because am not q law
" yer. and would under no circum-
81 ptanceA even II had been trained
Tor d lawyer, have any leaning
toward the bench: 80 In your case
should. a. . matter OF course. ac-
cept the three years of service In
RI the war department. dealing with
the Panama and Philippine ques-
tfUnB, and then abide the event as
n 20 whether became president, or
continued in public fife In some
loos conspicuous position, or went
n back to the practice OF the law.
But / appreciate. As every
thoughtful man must, the import
nnce OF the part to be played by
the supreme court In the next 25
:3 PEARS.
4. Nothing effective. because nothing
81 nf once honest and intelligent. IL
& being done to combat the great
amount OF evil, which, mixed with
LITTLE good. q little truth. IL con-
y tanned In the uutpourings OF -,
"A. Some OF these