Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-03-13
TAFT PRAISES
Mr.. ROOSEVELT
Never Served Under a Man More
Generous in Ills Praise.
INTIMACY NEVER RUFFLED

Declares When the Friction Of the Last
Few Months Shall Be Forgotten
Theodore Roosevelt viii Take His
Place In History With Washington
and Lincoln.
New York. March In It's issue
OF March Golfers Weekly will pub
lish the following article by President
Elect Tart. under the caption OF MY
Predecessor:
MIR Roosevelt and | came to know
each other when he was chairman of
the civil service commission and | was
solicitor general. In 1890 to 1892. In
Washington. We were both subordi-
yates in the Harrison administration.
We lived in the same part OF Washing
ton. Our wives knew each other well.
and some OF our children were born
about the same time.
I'VE found. after discussion. that we
agreed In quite marked way in our
views of proper political ideals and
proper political methods. We were as
emphatic In the Judgment that the
political reformer 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 prac-
tical. without achieving all that he
would like TO achieve. was rather a
hindrance than help to progress and
merely assisted the permanent con-
troll OF the boss and the machine. This.
think. had been the moving princi'
pie OF Mr. Roosevelt's career.
Generous In His Praise.
mo 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 a controversy
and fight according 10 the rules OF
the game. for he does. He believes as
strongly as possible in team work, and
never served under any man. or hope
to serve under another man so in.
tenscly loyal to the cause which we
were both seeking to uphold and so
generous in his acceptance OF the full
responsibility for his subordinates in
the work as Theodore Roosevelt. |
never served under another who was
as generous in his praise OF those who
worked with him and who was as will
ing 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 calcu.
lated 10 tie men to him with bonds OF
steel.
The general theory that Mr.. Roose.
welt is OF an exceedingly impulsive ma.
ture is perhaps justified to the extent
OF saying that he had marvellous
quickness for apprehending question
and reaching the nub OF II and almost
an overwhelming desire to decide and
get rid of the issue presented as
promptly as possible have never met
a man who. upor proper presenta-
ton. would reverse himself as willing.
~ and with as little trace OF obstinacy
or unreasonableness as Mr. Roose-
welt
"The relation between Mr.. Roose
~elt and myself has been one of close
and sweet intimacy. II has never been
-uflled in the slightest degree. and !
10 not think that We have ever mis-
understood each other.
Fcor Mans Champion.
mir. Hoosevelt's real. and what one
might almost describe as affectionate
interest in the welfare of the poor
man OF the man who has great OBJ
stacles to meet and who has the odds
against him In life's struggle. and the
sincerity OF his desire 10 help that
class of men. no one who ever had to
do with him could doubt and his in
sistence has always been that the dif.
fcnlty between the so-called classes in
the country and the failure of educated
lawyers and political economists and
others to bring about proper relations
between the well-to-do and those who
are dependen: upon wages for their
living. arises from an absence OF a
proper point Of view on the part OF
those who are leading comfortable
lives. The confidence that the com
mon plain people. including the wage
earners have had in Theodore Roose
welt as their representative and de
fender has been most perfectly placed;
for there never was champion more
sincere In support OF their real inter
ests. AMI yet there never was a friend
franker in his statement to them OF
the unpleasant truths that occasionally
they ought to be told. Mr. Roosevelt
understands the plain people about az
well es Lincoln did shares their feel
ings and gives accurate expression 10
them. Hence his marvellous hold upon
the great body OF the people. which
has continued to exist In undiminished
strength In spite OF the criticism heard
OF him and his methods in quarters
more conspicuous than really signih
cant
when the friction OF the last few
-