Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-01

| The Chtet Justiceship.
! Mr.. President, j suppose you have
noticed Mr.. Bryan's comments on your
appointment of Chief Justice White?''
All that | have to say about my
judicial appointments is that / have
Regarded my duty in respect to them as
| the most sacred with which | am
charged, and that / have spared no eff
fort to secure for the Supreme Court
! and other courts the best men I could
get, with the fullest appreciation of the
fact that the Federal courts, and es-
Ipecially the Supreme Court, constitute
the chief bulwark of the institutions
Of civil liberty, created by the Con-
lstitution."
Now, Mr.. President something of
the future. What do you purpose
tire Eating as your calendar of unfin-
|ished business for the rest of your
term?"
In the domestic field, suppose re-
auctions in the wooden and cotton
schedules, and possibly in the metal
schedules of the tariff, will go to the
top of the calendar. These will be
founded las far as my recommended
the Tariff Board | have heard it in
situated that Congress will not heed
the suggestions of an executive board.
As to that l have no means of judging
in advance. What / shall do is to put
the whole thing up to Congress, and
leave the members to settle with their
constituents if they prefer not to act.
In the House the Democratic majority
have always professed themselves
ready to accept any reductions they
can get, and am going TO take them
a. their word in good faith. Where
the Insurgents will stand 1 am not
prophet enough even to surmise.
For another thing, we ought to OBJ
ain some legislation which will enable
Alaska 70 develop without infringing
N our board policy of conservation.
Then there is the question of ratifying
he peace treaties with England and
france, and the fiscal treaties with
and Nicaragua. which in
heir way are peace treaties also. as
heir purpose is TO remove one OF the
most prolific causes of war.
Il assume that you know that it has |
been widely limited that your tour was |
he opening of your campaign for re- |
eleetion?'
Certainly. as is the case with all |
administrations, much of what | have |
dene since | have been in office has |
had some political color put upon it |!
by those who were inclined to be |
critical The truth is. however, that |
political considerations have not
heavily with me. have
tried to do in each case what seemed
to me the wisest thing. regardless OF
its effect upon my own future. indeed.
in more than one instance / have been
perfectly conscious whose bad blood
would be stirred by some act of mine
or some refusal to act The cireum-
stance that the same persons who hail
me, after one application of equal JUS
tiee, as far-seeing conservative pa
triot, denounce me after the next as an
radical does not greatly
disturb my equanimity. 1t set that
down as all in a days work
Il am very grateful for the honors
the people have given me. l do not
affect to deny the satisfaction should
feel if, after casting up the totals pro
and con. and striking balance. they
should decide that my first term had
been fruitful enough of good to war
rant their enlisting me for another.
Any man would be proud of such a
verdict. But have not been willing,
nor shall / be, to purchase il at the
sacrifice of my freedom to do my duty
as / see it. My happiness is not de-
pendent on holding any office; and /
shall go back TO private life with no
heartburnings if the people after an
review of my admins
tration, conclude that some one else
can serve them to their greater ad-