Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-06-26
NOT FOR HONOR ALONE.
TAFT Writes OF His Conception OF
The Presidency.

The Presidency.
New York, June 22.-Secretary
William II. Taft has written the fol-
lowing article on his conception of the
presidency for the current issue of
Golfers Weekly:
In the four years that | have been
a member of the cabinet | have be-
come familiar enough with the re-
spOnSibilitieS and burdens of the pres
idency to understand that no man can
afford unduly to seek that great Of
tice, If he is attracted by honor %sAd
power alone without the hope Of be-
ing useful he is worthy of the hon
or and unfit for the use of the power.
lie must prefer for the sake of his
own peace Of mind never to be presi-
dent to being a poor president, Con-
tident 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 val
iantly for election after he accepts
the leadership. But, of course, he
which will not leave him free of
promise and of the control of any fac
tiOn.
SHOULD SEEK TO KNOW PEOPLES WILL
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 qualification than genius in
mastering the essentials Of all the de-
partmunts of government and under
going the strain of useless interviews.
lie should not look only to those in Of
flee, but those out of office in all
branches of private activity for infOr-
nation and opinion, in order that he
may arrive at the truth when he is
surrounded by the conflict 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, as their represent
ative head. from them in the sober
thought of the majority he will get
his best counsel. Though indifference
or preoccupation with private affairs
may keep them from attending pri
maries or scanning closely the other
candidates or measures, they can
center on the president as their in
strument for 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.
LINCOLN MADE TASK EASIER
"In common with the people he is
human, and he must ask their charity
ceased to believe in his sincerity and
uprightness of purpose his is cheer
less task. Once convinced that he has
OWNED and is carrying out their real
wishes, neither elated by an outburst
of applause nor diverted by any out
burst of cenSure, he must proceed un-
waveringly, always by lawful methods,
to the accomplishment of the popular
will.
"From Washington he may learn
nobility and fortitude. Lincoln's life
and speeches must be his source of
inspiration when he is misunderstood
and he has to say to himself, Patience
and cheer 1t is easier since we had
Lincoln than it was before to be
good president. He set standard.
"It remained for Roosevelt to prove
how the people will respond to a
strong and true leadership when the
hour has come for great reforms. The
policies which he inaugurated must
be continued and duplicated. They
are right and they are the policies OF
the people. For that reason his sue
cessor may we'll disregard any charge
of lack of originality if he does not
make an entirely new programme of
his own.
PLENTY OF WORK AHEAD.
"a president at this time has work
before him clearly defined. The en-
forcement of the law equally against
high and low, the powerful and the
weak, shouldbe his first thought. The
danger to our country from laXity or
favoritism is the greatest one we have
to face. The conservation of our ma
tional resources and their develop
ment for the use of all along the lines
of equal opportunity, too, must COM