The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-28

Robert ]. Merrill, secretary of the Taft Association of New Hampshire, has received this letter of indorsement of the candidacy of the Secretary Of War for the presidential office from President William J. Tucker of Dart mouth college
 Hanover, Feb. Is.
 My Dear Sir-I am obliged by the doctors orders to keep all of my phy- sical strength in reserve for such col lege duties as can carry; otherwise I should accept your invitation to the reception and luncheon in honor of Secretary Taft, Nothing would give me more pleasure than to take part in the welcome which so many of the peo- pie of New Hampshire will extend to him as he visits the state. But my interest in the present visit Of MT. Taft goes further l hopk to have the satisfaction, as citizen of the State, of voting for him as President of the United States but If the ordinary citi zen would have this hope, or the like hope in regard to any other man, real ized, 1t seems 10 be necessary as things are to-day for him to express his per sonal preference we'll in advance. The actual voting for the next President is now going on. far In advance of the election. or of the convention, or even of the primary. The ballot box which registers the personal choice of citi zen, rather than the result of poiiti- cal combination, is the press, the pub He meeting, or some like agency for the expression of personal opinion. 70 My respect and enthusiasm for MT. Taft arc not of recent date. As far back as the year in which as judge of the Federal Circuit Court he rendered his decision affecting. as was assumed, labor interests I formed very defin- lte opinion of MT. Taft. At dinner of the New England Society In Cincin natl at which was present he spoke informally but with great frankness and seriousness of the responsibilities attaching to the judiciary and in gen eral to the public service. My sym pathies then, as now, were with the general cause to which his decision cd to him, while my sSr1pathies re mained unchanged. I became convinced that here was man to whom great and sensitive issues could be committed in perfect assurance of honesty fair- ness and sufficiency of treatment. have seen nothing in his public career to modify that conviction. but. rather. everything to confirm it. Whatever ne has done in public way has been characterized in doing by the simplfci- ty of intellectual and moral greatness. The ease with which he has accom- plshed and is accomplishing great tasks may be deceptive. He has n most men. how to give the whole of himself to the duty in hand, be it at home or abroad He Is apparently as free from calculation in rendering per sonal service as he is free from all evasiveness in discussing public dues- tions.
 I do not know that we ever ought to speak of any man as deserving well Of the republic Office is not the reward or well doing. But I think that the prl- vate citizens of the country who are just now doing a great deal of thihk- ing on the personal aspects or the poll tical situation. may asK themselves what greater personal qualities. what broader thinking, what more thorough. ly tried capacity. what more assured unselfishness can be demanded in candidate for the presidency than MT Taft has already exemplthed Tn ms public career
 peg Non 10 pay my per iSvhal spects to Mir Taft and tn say to him that I hope to have the privilege ana honor of voting for him at the presi- dential election. as ! now have the sal isfaction of expressing my earnest preference for him as presidential candidate I am
 Very truly yours.
 W I TUCKER.
 Robert Merrill
 Secretary of the Taft Association or
 New Hampshire Concord, N H.