The Mena weekly star., 1908-06-25
HE GIVES HIS IDEA.
MR. TAFT WRITES AN ARTICLE ON HIS CONCEPTION OF
 THE PRESIDENCY;
EXECUTIVE MUST KEEP CLOSE TO PEOPLE
Will Get His Best Counsel From Them Declares the Republican Candidate --ls the Most Sought After and Loneiiest of Men--Should Be in Prime of Life.

New York, June 24--Secrettary Wil liam H. Taft has written the follow ing article on his conception of the presidency:
 Tn the four years that have been a member of the cabinet have be- come familiar enough with the re- responsibilities and burdens of the presidency to know that no man can afford unduly to seek that great of flee. If he is attracted by honor and power alone without the hope of being useful, he is unworthy of the honor and unfit for the use of the power. He must prefer for the sake of his own peace of mind never to be presi. dent to being a poor president Con fident that the platform on which he stands is for the best interests of the nation, he is untrue to himself and his supporters if he does not fight valiant- ly for election after he accepts the leadership.
 The presidents duties, clearly out lined by the constitution have grown broader in their interpretation with the growth of the country. He should be in the prime of years, health and vigor. The capacity for hard work is a better equipment than genius in mastering the essentials of all the departments of the government and undergoing the strain of countless in fo. II -LA to those in office but to those out of office in all branches of private ac- tivity for information and opinion in order that he may arrive at the truth of interests which come to him with the fair words of the special pleader.
 'In many senses though the most sought after. he is the loneliest man in the United States. Elected direct. ly by the people their representative head, from them in the sober thought of the majority, he will get his best counsel. Though indifference or pre-. occupation with private affairs may keep them from attendinix primaries or scar ning loosely the othes randidate ecr measures, they can center on the president as their instrument for the expression of their wishes. He shoulc be always near the people in thought and as near them in person as his DO sition will permit In common witf the people, he is human, and he mus ask their charity for his mistakes When they have ceased to believe il his sincerity and uprightness o purpose, his is cheerless task. Once convinced that he has divined and ii carrying out their real wishes, neither elated by an outburst of applause mol diverted by any outburst of censure he must proceed unwaveringly, always by lawful methods, to the accom- plishment of the popular will.
 "A president at this time has worl before him clearly defined The in forcement of the law, equally agains high and low, the powerful and thu weak, should be his first thought. Th' danger to our country from laxity O favoritism in this is the greatest on we have to face. The conservation O our national resources and their de velopment for the use of all along tn lines of equal opportunity, too, mus command his immediate attention. l should be his aim to give high tom to his administration as Presiden Roosevelt has by surrounding himsel with men of prominence, enthusiasm in public interest and of the cleanes and most effective methods.