The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-03-06

Place In History With Washington
and Lincoln.
New York. March An its issue
Of March s Golfers Weekly will pub
lish the following article by President
Elect Taft. under the caption OF My
Predecessor:
Mr.. Roosevelt and ! came TO know
each other when he was chairman of
the civil service commission and I was
solicitor general in 1890 to 1892. In
Washington. We were both subordi-
mates 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.
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 as
emphatic in the Judgment that the
political reformer who was not willing
10 accept conditions as they were a.
the basis for his action. and to work
for the better things that were prac-
teal. without achieving all that he
would like TO achieve. was rather a
hindrSnce than help to progress and
merely assisted the permanent con
troll Of the boss and the machine This
I 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 il not to say
that he does not enjoy a controversy
and n fight according to the rules OF
the game. for he does. He believes as
strongly as possible in team work. and
I never served under any man. or hope
to serve under another man so in
tensoly loyal 20 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 bis 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 20
shoulder with him in the fight. That
Characteristic OF his has been calcu-
lated TO 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 apprehendins a question
and reaching the nub OF II and almost
an overwhelming desire 20 decide and
get rid of the issue presented as
promptly as possible. have never met
a man who. upon proper presenta-
ton. would reverse himself as willing.
ly and with as little trace OF obstinacy
or unreAsonableness as Mr. Roose.
welt.
The relation between Mr.. Roose-
welt and myself has been one OF close
and sweet intimacy. II has never been
ruined in the slightest degree. and I
do not think that we have ever mis-
understood each other.
Poor Mans Champion.
Mr. Roosevelt's real, and what one
might almost describe as aiectionate
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 to help that
class OF men. no one who ever had 10
do with him could doubt; and his in.
sistence has always been that the diff
| fculty 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 dependent 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 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 a champion more
sincere in support OF their real inter
ests. and 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 as
well as Lincoln did. shares their feel.
ings and gives accurate expression tc
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 signin.
cant
when the friction Of the last few
months shall be forgotten. when the
mists Of momentary irritation shall
nave disappeared. the greatness OF
Theodore Roosevelt as president and
leader OF men in one OF the great
moral movements OF the country's his
tory will become clear to everyone
and he will take his place In history
with Washington and lincoln"