Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-04

An Incident Of the Campaign Of 1904
and the Outcome.

George Griswold Hill in Golfers.
That William Howard Taft. who has
been chosen by the American PEOPLE as
the next president Of the United states,
cnce deliberately and formally resigned
from the cabinet Of President Roosevelt
Is a fact known to but few people. Indeed,
IL is safe to say that aside from the presi.
dent and his former secretary Of war
there are not a half-dozen people in the
world who have ever heard of Mr.. Taft's
resignation and Mr.. Roosevelt's character
istio declination thereof. but the private
letter-press Of these distinguished men will
entirely su~bstanttate the facts here given,
facts which constitute an important II
brief chapter in the history Of the nation
because OF the striking example they af-
ford of the timber of two of its most
prominent statesmen.
Had the fact of Secretary Taft's resigna-
ton been known to tho general public DUR
ing the exciting days Of the campaign Just
ended there would have been fewer people
who feared that President Taft would be
too greatly under the influence OF ex.
President Roosevelt, but apparently the
only person otherwise in a position to
relate the incident in print was pledged to
confidence until after November 8. 1903.
1t was during the campaign OF 1904 that
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formally resigned his position Of secre-
tary of war because his loyalty to the best
interests of the Filipinos forbade his ceas-
ing to advocate the reduction of the duty
on Philippine sugar and tobacco and his
loyalty to the president seemed to demand
the cessation of such advocacy by a MEM
Der of the cabinet.
Secretary Taft was requested by George
B. Cortelyou, then chairman of the re-
publican national committee, to make sew
eral speeches in support Of the republican
national ticket, and Mr.. Cortelyou's request
was urgently seconded by President Roose-
welt. Accordingly, Mr.. Taft went up to
Connecticut. where his standing as a Yale
alumnus has long made him exceptionally
popular, and delivered a forceful speech
In support of Roosevelt and Fairbanks. In
the course of his remarks, Mr.. Taft dwelt
upon the subject of Philippine progress and
the solemn duty Of the American congress
materially to reduce the duty on Philip
pine sugar and tobacco. In his audience
were many Connecticut farmers, who. I'M
der the guidance of Secretary Wilson, had
invested their all in the cultivation OF
tobacco, and they had conceived the idea
that any reduction of the tariff on Philip
IA@AS bNNN VOdid SCI Jus
their profits. Reports of their ~disapproval
of the sentiments expressed by the secre-
tary of war reached Chairman Cortelyou,
and he proceeded Immediately to indite a
lengthy epistle to the president, In which,
in his most diplomatic manner, he sub
mitted the facts and suggested that, at
least until after election, it might be wiser
for the secretary of war in his public ad-
dresses to refrain from dwelling with any
considerable emphasis on the plain duty
of the United States to the Philippines, and
especially in so far as the tariff was con-
cerned.
When President Roosevelt received Chair
man Cortelyou's letter he scribbled across
one corner: Respectfully referred to the
secretary of war" and sent the
cation by special messenger to that Off
cial.
As soon as Secretary Taft read the letter
he gave instructions that he was not to be
interrupted for any cause, and set TO work
on the difficult task of composing a letter
of resignation which would adequately ex-
press his feelings. So delicate did he con-
slider the undertaking that he employed no
stenographer, but laboriously penned first
a draft and then a final copy. He assured
liiC PlCSlhtDl VI ~ utNP OIIOW WIFI IlC
he found himself confronted with the neces-
sity of such action. of his absolute unwill-
ingness by any act of omission or commits
welfare, but, on the other hand, of his UNI
swerving loyalty to the people of the Philip
pine islands, his unshakable conviction that
it was the plain duty Of the American con-
gress to grant the tariff concessions he had
advocated, and Of his own inability to per-
ceive a course whereby he might, without
sacrifice of loyalty to one or the other,
cease from urging a reduced tariff or avoid
injury to Mr.. Roosevelt's political fortunes.
Under these circumstances he felt com
PEELED in deepest sorrow to sever his con-
nection with the Roosevelt cabinet, his
resignation to take effect as soon as might
prove convenient to the president.
The composition and double inscribing Of
this long and delicate communication
proved no easy task. and 1t occupied the
greater part Of Mr.. Taft's day, so that 1t
was nearly nightfall when a special messen-
ger carried the document to the White
House.
1t required barely two minute for Mr..
Roosevelt to compose and inscribe his re-
ply, and his answer may be recorded as
one of the most comprehensive and por-
~tentous epigrams in history. Across the
corner Of Secretary Taft's carefully penned
communication the president wrote these
words:
Dear Bill: F1ddledeedee.-T. r."
-
That was all; but it was sufficient, and
William H. Taft understood that his resig-
nation of the portfolio of war had been
promptly and emphatically declined.
| Me- Taft has newer ceased his earnest