Arizona republican., 1910-02-27
aft and Roosevelt.

other night. IL was m the prellml- nary remarks, made off-hand, rather than the set speech-the remarks in which Mir. Taft spoke of the unfair ness Of the press toward him-that the difference to which we refer was manifested
 T had not intended to say anything on the subject of my first year in the White House" said the president. but after what Governor Murphy has so graciOusly said. 1 cannot refrain from a personal word or two.
 It is true l told him I wanted to make good a year ago. l am not cer- tain OI doing il now. He said some thing about the newspapers. When the newspapers arg prone Jo criticism and sometimes unite in hammering your administration. treating it sometimes with contemptuous disdain and sometimes with natronizing friendship. ii is hard to overcome the feeling that perhaps you ought to be- gin all over again.
 In view of all that, to have re- ceived the welcome rendered today gives . little hope that perhaps the newspapers don't carry in their pock- cts all of public opinion and that perhaps the American people are able to see through something of. hyper criticism, something of hysteria and something Of hypocrisy and to have a real sympathy with the man who un- der considerable responsibility is doing the best he can.
 They say that sometimes demOn- stratiOns are misleading, but l am going to believe as I have said. that your reception today and tonight is sincere. and I am going to take that flattering junction to my soul as I go back to Washington. and avoid the newspapers.
 You see. therefore, that when came here today l was in a frame of mind which made your welcome as balm to my soul and I carry away a sense of gratitude that will never de- part from my memory
 Far more than the country had sus- pected. evidently Mir Taft takes to heart the hostile and unfair criticism to which he has been subjected for many months Sincerely unselfish and patriotic, exceedingly anxious to make good" and to give the country peace and prosperity. exceedingly anxious to redeem the pledges of his party. he is hurt that a considerable section of the daily and periodical press per sists in misrepresenting his purposes and charging him with a lack of the qualities which he feels he does pos sess. He frankly showed the senti mental side of his character when he alluded with emotion to his appre- the audience.
 Under like circumstances, what would Mir Roosevelt have said? It is not difficult to guess. Had he mo- ticed the hostile press at all. MT. Roosevelt would have handed out some return blows that would have raised yelps from ocean to ocean. He would have named the offending pub licatiOns and pointed out their mo-
 
 would. in short, have made another of his famous proclamations to the people, wherein he was wont to take them into his confidence and appeal to them to stand by him. Whereas it was sorrowful occasion for Mir. Taft, Mir. Roosevelt would have welcomed with joy the opportunity to hand q bunch" to his enemies.
 And this marks the essential differ is man of peace, and he hates con- troversy It wounds him to have his motives questioned Mr. Roosevelt in the presidential office was never so happy as when the assaults of his enemies gave him an opportunity to strike back He had no fear that they could disturb the peoples con- fidence in him, and their abuse of him was music to his ears.
 Mr. Taft, we suppose, lacks patience Although he knows that Washington and Lincoln were more bitterly and unfairly assailed than any other presi- dent has been, and although he knows they serenely ignored the attacks. his temperament does not permit him to rest quietly under the same condi- tions No doubt he feels as did Gov ernor Hughes a few months ago. when the, governor, restive under the at tacks of the press, made the remark that nothing was more calculated to make cynic of a man than to hold high office, devote ones best energies to a conscientious discharge of duty and find the people lacking in confi- dence and appreciation The mistake made by Governor Hughes was in as- suming that the hostile newspapers necessarily reflected public opinion
 MT Taft's judicial temperament