The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-06-26
ROSY PATH IF
DUTY is we'll Done
Taft's Magazine Story Gives
His Conception Presidency
Must Be Close TO the People And
Get Inspiration from
Them.


the following article of his conception
of the Presidency for the current issue
of Golfers Weekly.
'In the four years that | nave been
member of the Cabinet | nave he
come familiar enough with the respon-
sibilities and burdens of the Presidency
to know that no man can afford I'M
duly to seek that great office. IL ne is
attracted by honor and power alone,
without the hope of being useful, ne
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 poor President.
Confident that the platform on
which he stands is for the best inter-
ests of the nation he is untrue to him
self and his supporters If he does not
fight valiantly for election after he ac-
cepts the leadership. .
But Of course he must draw tine
line at any compact which will not
leave him free of promises and of the
control of any faction.
Tine Presidents duties, clearly out
lined by the Constitution, have grown
broader in their Interpretation with Oh
growth of the country. He should be
in the prime of years health and vigor.
The capacity for hard work is better
equipment than genius in mastering
the essentials of all the departments
of the Government and undergoing the
strain of countless interviews.
He should look, not only to those
in office but To those out of office in
all branches of private activity for in
formation and opinion in order that he
may arrive at the truth when he is sur
rounded by the conflict of interests
which come to him with the fair word
of the special pleader.
In many senses though the most
sought after, ne sthe loneliest in the
United States. Elected directly by the
people their representative head, from
them in the sober thought of the ma
jority ne will get his best counsel.
Though indifference or preoccupa-
ton with private affairs may keep them
from attending primaries or scanning
closely the other candidates or meas
ures, they can center on the President
as their instrument the expression of
their wishes.
"He should be always near the people
in thought and as near them in person
as his position will permit. In common
with the people, he is human, and he
must ask their charity for his mis-
takes.
when they have ceased to believe
in his sincerity and uprighteousness OF
purpose his is cheerlesss task. Once
convinced that he has OWNED and is
carrying out their real wish, neither
elated by an outburst of applause nor
diverted by any outbursts of censure,
he must proceed unwaveringly, always
by lawful methods to the accomplish
ment of the popular will.
From Washington he may learn no
bility fortitude and righteousness. Lin
coins life and speeches must be his
source of inspiration, when he is mis-
understood and he has to say to him
self patience and cheer
1T is easier since we had Lincoln
than it was before to be good Presi-
dent-he set standard
1T remained for Roosevelt to prove
now the people will respond to a stron
and true leadership when the hour has
come for great reforms. The policies
which he inaugurated must be con-
tinued and developed They are
right and they are the policies of the
people.
For that reason his successor may
well disregard any charge of lack of
originally if he does make an en-
tirely new program of his own.
"A President at this time mas work
before him clearly defined. The en-
forcement of the law, equally against
nigh and low, the powerful and the
weak should be his first thought. The
danger to our country from laXity OF
favoritism in this is the great one
we have TO face.
1.-THE conservation of our national
resources and their development for
the use of all along the lines Of equal
opportunity too. must command his
immediate attention. 1t should be mis-
aim to give high tone to mis- admins
tration as President Roosevelt has by
surrounding himself with men OF
prominence enthusiasm in public in
terest and OF the cleanest and most
effective methods"
/ NOfice