The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-03-04
TAFT'S FEELINGS
FOR ROOSEVELT
New President Speaks Highly
of the Old
INTIMATE IN RELATIONS
RooseveIt's Characteristics Are Plain
ly Set Forth and Taft Declares
That Roosevelt VIII Have a
Great Place In History.

New York, March Sin its issue OF
March Golfers Weekly will publish the
following article by President-elect Taft
under the caption MY Predecessor:
Mr.. Roosevelt and l came to know
each other when he was chairman of the
civil service commission, and I was So
licitor general in 1890 to 1892 in Wash
ington. We were both subordinates in the
Harrison administration. We lived in the
same part of Washington, he on Nine
teenth street near the British embassy.
and I on Dupont circle. Our wives knew
each other well, and some of our chill
dren were born about the same time.
I'VE found after discussion that we
agreed in quite a marked way in our
views of proper political ideals and proper
political methods. We were as emphatic
in the Judgment that the political reform
er who was not willing to accept condi-
tons 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
a hindrance than help to progress, and
merely assisted the permanent control of
the boss and the machine. This, 1 think,
has been the moving principle of Mr..
Roosevelt's career. He has believed in
practical progress and not in ideals which
make for no real advancement.
After these two years 1 went upon
the bench, left Washington and only &C.
casionally met him, though from time
to time as changes came into his career,
we carried on correspondence, and as
crises would arise he would not infre-
quently write me to secure my judgment
on particular situations.
Roosevelt Fighter.
mo one could be associated with Mr..
Roosevelt closely without having the
strongest 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 con-
tact. But this Is not to say that he does
not enjoy controversy and a fight ac-
cording to the rules of the game, for he
does He believes as strongly as possible
in team work, and l never served under
any man, or hope to serve under another
man. SO intensely loyal to the cause which
we were both seeking to uphold and SO
generous In his acceptances 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 to the men
who were shoulder to shoulder with him
In the fight. That characteristic OF his has
been calculated to tie men to him with
bonds of steel.
lmpulsive Nature.
| THE theory that Mr. Roosevelt is of
1U hmm lcix mi ic haT
| due to the extent of the saying that he
| had a marvellous quickness for apprehend-
| ing a question and reaching the nub of
1t and almost an overwhelming desire to
decide and get rid of the issue presented
as promptly as possible; L never knew a
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 1 value this virtue
more highly because lack it myself The
result of quick decision and action might
have impaired the success of Mr. Roose-
velts career if it had not been that he
has been freer than most from that pride
OF opinion which prevents many men from
admitting their errors, reversing their
Judgment and changing their course.
"I have had to do with a number Of
| Presidents asd with a good many chiefs
| and l am well within the truth when 1
say that 1 never met man who, upon
| proper presentation, would reverse him
self as willingly and with as little trace
| of obstinacy or unreasonableness as Mr..
| Roosevelt.
Sweet Intimacy.
1.-The relation between Mr. Roosevelt
and myself has been one of close and
sweet intimacy. 1t has never been ruff
] fed in the slightest degree and / do not
think that we have ever misunderstood
each other. Mr.. Roosevet's tastes and
mine have not been the same In the
| matter of athletics he takes to those
| games more violent than I am suited to
and more violent than l like. He has
the strongest literary sense and a power
| of application in ruling current literature
that to me is marvellous. He loves the
/ woods; he loves hunting; he loves life
! akin to that of the pioneer; he loves
roughing it and I don't.
Not Lawyer.
Mr. Roosevelt never had the educa-
! tion and practice of a lawyer. His in
] tense desire to reach practical results for
good has made him at times impatient of
tho restraint of legal methods, while I
have been trained as a lawyer and a
| Judge and am as strongly imbued with
| the necessity for legal methods as IL years
| on the bench are likely to make one, and
| yet in spite of this difference of method
| and difference of temperament, it is quite
| remarkable to me and we have frequent
ly commented on 1t to each other, that
we have been in agreement in our views
as to the results that ought to be OBJ
tanned in the matter of government and
political progress, even to details, much
more than other men who have come into
association with both Of us.
Courage of Convictions.
"Mr. Roosevelts courage in the express
sion of his convictions I need not dwell
on. His ISal and what one might almos,
ascribe as affectionate interest in the well
fare of the poor man, of the man who
has great obstacles to meet and who has
the odds against him in life's struggle
and the sincerity of his desire to helr
that class of men. no one who ever had
to do with him could doubt and his in
sistence has always been that the diff
Guilty between so-called classes in the
country and the failure of educated law
yers and political economists and others
to bring about proper relations between
the well-to-do and those who are de-
pendent upon wages for their living
arises from an absence of proper point
of view on the part of those who are
leading comfortable lives. The confidence
that the common, plain people, including
the wage-earners, had In Theodore Roose-
welt as their representative and defender
has been most perfectly placed, for there
never was champion more sincere in
support of their real interests and yet
there never was 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 as well as Lincoln did
| shares their feelings. and gives accurate