The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-04

New York. March 3.-In its issue ol
March G. Golfers Weekly will publish
the following article by President
elect Taft, under the caption, MY Pre-
decessor"
President Roosevelt and came TO
know each other when he was chair
man OF the civil service commission,
and was solicitor general in 1890 to
1892, In Washington. We were both
subordinates in the Harrison admin
istration. We lived in the same part
of Washington, he on Nineteenth
street near the British embassy. and
| on Dupont Circle. Our wives knew
each other well and some OF our chill
dren were born about the same time.
1--WE found after discussion that We
agreed In quite a marked way In our
views of proper political ideals and
proper political methods. We were
emphatic in the Judgment that the pol
itlcal reformor who was not willing TO
accept conditions as they were as the
basis for his action, and to work for
the better things that were practical
without achieving all that he would
like to achieve was rather hindrance
than help to progress and merely
assisted the permanent control OF the
boss and the machine.
. This, think. has been the moving
principle of Mr.. Rooseyelt's career.
He has believed In practical progress
and not In ideals which make for no
real advancement,
After these two years. | went upon
the bench and left Washington and
only occasionally met him, though
from time TO time as changes came In
his career. we carried on correspon-
dence and as crises would arise. he
would not infrequently write me to
secure my judgment on particular stu
ations.
"No one associates with Mr.. RooSe-
welt closely without having the strong
est possible affection for him. His
mind, his disposition and his tempera-
ment are all of that class that would
rather make him agree than disagree
with the people with whom he comes
in contact
"But this is not to say that he does
not enjoy controversy and fight.
according to the rules Of the game.
for he does, He believes SO strongly
AS possible In team work and / never
served under any man, or hope to serve
under another man so intensely loyal
to the cause which we were both seek
ing 10 uphold and so generous in his
acceptance OF the full responsibility
for his subordinates in the work as
Theodore Roosevelt, j never served
under another who was as generous in
his praise OF those who worked with
him and who was as willing to accord
more than their deserts to the men
who were shoulder to shoulder with
him In the fight That characteristic
of his has been calculated 10 tie men
to him with bonds of steel.
"The general theory that Mr. Roosc-
yelt is Of an exceedingly impulsiye
nature is, perhaps, justified to the en-
tent Of saying that he had marvellous
quickness for comprehending ques-
ton and reaching the hub OF IL and
also an overwhelming desire TO decide
to get rid of the issue presented as
promptly as possible. | never knew
man who worked as far in advance OF
what was to be done and who kept his
engagements with reference to what
he had agreed to do as providently as
Mr.. Roosevelt. Perhaps | value this
VII htuc uiOie hi6uiN pttduSe IdCk IL
myself. The result of quick decision
and action might have inspired the
success of his career II ii had not been
that he has been freer than most men
from that pride OF opinion which pre-
vents many men from admitting their
errors, reversing their judgment and
changing their course. | have had TO
do with number of presidents and
with good many chiefs and am we'll
within the truth when | say that |
never met a man who would reverse
himself as willing and with as little
trace OF obstinacy or unreasonable
ness as Mr. Roosevelt
The relations between Mr. Roose-
welt and myself have been close and
sweetly intimate. 1t has never been
ruffed In the slightest degree and do
not think that we have ever misunder-
stood each other. Mr.. Roosevelt's
tastes and mine have not been the
same. In the matter of athletics, he
takes to those games more violent
than like. He has the strongest
literary sense and a power OF applica-
ton in reading current literature that
To me Is marvellous. He loves the
woods: he loves hunting; he loves life
akin to that Of the pioneer: don't.
Mr.. Roosevelt never had the educa-
ton and practice of lawyer. His in
tense desire to reach practical results
for good has made him ut times i'm
patient of the restraint of legal meth
OdS while T hove hoap trotpod no 4,