The Washington herald., 1909-03-06
TAFT AND ROOSEVELT.
Their Relations and Temperaments
Discussed by the Former.

President Taft. n COIli='A
No one associates with Mr. Roosevelt
closely without having the strongest pos
sible affection for him His mind, his
disposition, and his temperament 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 10 say thai he does not enjoy a
controversy and a fight according to the
rules OF the game, for he does. He be-
Heves as strongly as possible IN team
work, and I never served under any man,
or hope TO serve under another msn, so
intensely loyal 70 the cause which We
were both seeking 70 uphold and so gen
erous in his acceptance OF the full
responsibility for his subordinates in the
work as Theodore Roosevelt I never
served under another who was as gen
erous in his praise OF those who worked
with him and who was as willing to ac-
cord more than their deserts 20 the men
who were shoulder 70 shoulder with him
IN the fight That characteristic of his
has been calculated 10 tie men 70 him
with bonds Of steel
IS Of an exceedingly impulsive nature is.
perhaps. justified 10 the extent OF saying
that he has a marvellous quickness fox
apprehending a question and reaching the
nub OF il. and almost an overwhelming
desire to decide and get rid OF the issue
presented as promptly as possible !
never knew a man who worked as far
IN advance Of what was to be done and
who kept his engagements with reference
10 what he had agreed 10 do as pTOvi
IDENTIFY as Mr. Roosevelt Perhaps J value
this virtue more highly because I lack Il
myself The result Of quick decision
and action might have impaired the sue
cess OF Mr. Roosevelt's career II IL had
not been that he has been freer than
most men from that pride Of opinion
which prevents many men from admitting
their error, reversing their judgment and
changing their course I have had TO do
with a number OF Presidents and with
a good many chiefs. and am well within
the truth when I say that I never met
a man who. upon proper presentation.
would reverse himself as willingly and
with as little trace OF obstinacy OF IN
reasonsbieness as Mr.. Roosevelt
The relation between Mr. Roosevelt and
myself has been one Of close and sweet
intimacy. Il has never been rufied IN
the slightest degree, and I do not think
that we have ever misunderstood each
other. Mr Roosevelt's tastes and mine
have not been the same. In the mat
ter Of athletics he takes 20 those games
more violent that ] an suited 70 and
more violent than I Ike. He has the
strongest literary sense and power OF
application IN reading current literature
that 20 ne is marvellous. He loves the
woods: he loves hunting; he loves life
akin 70 that Of the pioneer; he loves
roughing il. and / don't
Mr.. Roosevelt never had the education
and practice OF a lawyer. His intense
desire 20 reach practical results for good
has made him at times impatient OF the
restraint OF legal methods, while I have
been trained as a lawyer and q Judge,
and am as strongly inbued with the ne
cessity for legal methods as eleven years
On the bench are likely 70 make one:
and yet. in spite OF this difference OF
method and difference OF tempera-
ment, Il IS quite remarkable 70 ne
and We frequently have commented
on Il 70 each other. that we have
been in agreement in our views as 20
the results that ought 10 be obtained
IN the matter Of government and political
progress, even TO details. much more than
other men who have come into asSocia-
ton with both OF Us.