The Washington times., 1908-10-16
Roosevelt and Taft Combine
As Sho9Un Up in a MeqU Ltght
Publication of Private Correspondence in Reference to
Candidates Decision to Make Race Is One of
Sensations of Campaign

yOu' edch with uncertain possibilities
ana you cannot feel sure that which ever
you take you will not afterward feel
Ihat II would have been better If you
hau taken the other. But which ever
you take 1 know that you will render
great and durable service to the nation
FOR many years to come. and / feel
| sure that you should decide IN accord
ahce with the prOmptings Of your own
LIAlHB' or your own belief as to where
you can render the service which most
Appeals 70 you, as well as that which
you Feel Is most beneficial to the nation.
NO one can with wisdom advise you.
Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Taft Deliberate.
Secretary Taft took a long time 10
consider the matter, says the magazine.
At intervals there was further discus
sion Of It with President Roosevelt, and
occasionally the subject was mentioned
In the correspondence that went on con-
tinually between the two men. Finally,
Mr.. Taft wrote:
Point Au Pic, Province Of Quebec.
Canada, July 80. 1906.
Ny Dear Mr.. President: You have
been good enough to offer TO appoint the
on the Supreme Bench, to succeed Jus
ice Brown, and I have not hesitated
70 express TO you number Of times the
pleasure / would have in accepting the
appointment II I could do so. The chief
reason for my hesitation was the con-
dllOn OF matters in the War Depart
ment, including the Philippines and
Panama Canal bureaus.
Subject of Attack.
With respec 10 Panama matters. 1
have no doubt that Nj Root, to whom
you proposed TO transfer supervision OF
the Canal Commission, would do the
work better than. have done 1t. or
could 90 II. OF course. We will stiu be
me subject of attack for what has been
done, and I could. perhaps, meet the
attack better than any one because or
my familiarity with what has been
zone, but thaI consideration would not
De great enough 10 require me 10 sac
rince my ambition TO 60 on the bench or
10 risk the chance Of doing so.
have been connected with the ad
ministration OF civil government in the
philippine islands since February 1900
Much or what has been done in working
out the problem and carrying the bur
den thrust upon the United States. 1
am more or less responsible for.
Rightly or wrongly. the people OF the
ISLANDS. and especially those who have
been most anxious TO make our Govern
ment a success there. have confidence in
my earnest desire 10 help the Filipino
people, and my willingness 10 do every
JhinE can 10 secure them prosperity,
peac'. and q gradual exchange OF self
government.
Part Of the Burden.
1T IS the necessity one is under IN
carrying on such public business Of Sc
curing witnesses and establishing evl-
dence in respect 10 each thing done that
one IS not a thief and has not a corrupt
motive which makes administrative
work under conditions Of partisan poll
tics so lrksOme 10 me. But. of course,
tt IS part OF the burden one assumes.
and II is COwdrdly to run away from
II when one is IN it.
know that few. Z any. even among
my friends, Will cred me with anything
but desire. unconscious. perhaps, TO
run for the Presidency. and that 1 must
face and bear this miscynstructiOn OF
what / do But I am confident YOU
credit my reasons as / give them 10 YOU,
and VIII believe me when ! say that 1
would much prefer T. 90 on the Su-
preme Bench for life than 20 run for the
Presidency. and that In twenty years OF
judicial service l could make myself
more useful 20 the country than as
President even II my election should
come about
Please do not misunderstood ne 10
think that l am Indispensable or that
the world could not run on much the
same II l were 70 disappear in the St.
Lawrence river But circumstances seem
10 me 70 have imposed something in the
nature OF trust TO me personally that
/ should not disc .arge by now succeed
ing Justice Brown In the nature OF
things the trust must end with this Ad-
mlnlstraton, and one or two years is
short 10 do much. Yet the next session
OF Congress may result IN much for the
benefit Of the Filipino. and il seems 10
me It is my DUTY 10 be in the fight
Sincerely. yours.
WILLIAM II. TAFT