The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-06
Taft in Interview Tell 81
Rupture With Former
Friend Roosevelt"
EXPLAINS WHY HE.
is A CONSERVATIVE
Feels That Overwhelming
Majority of American Peo-
pie Oppose Innovations
in Government

BEVERLY. MASS, Oct. 5.--"ThA
Progressive leader. though ne may bN63
unconscious of 1t, is actually convfnc-a
ed that affairs In this country haye
reached a state wherein beneyolen4
despotism is demanded in order tQsI
secure o millennium and to secur0
happiness to the people, and that heI
alone il fitted to head that benevolenka
despotiam."
This is one striking expression madNA
by President Taft to a Representatives
OF the New York American, in the
most remarkably frank newspaper in-
terview ever given by chief magis
trate of the United States.
The president was in high spir5toM
when he received the caller in the
spacious work-room at FarraInA4x4
the Summer White House here. Aj
drizzling rain w&s streaking the VIM
dows while he talked. but q woed AF9
gave warmth to the scene wIthin
tfoors '-'' $500 sss
Seated In a wicker ociiair the presf-
dent talked freely OF the men and u
Issues OF the campaign. Referring ai-s
ways to the Bull Moose candidate 49,
My former friend. Mr.. RooseveIt.ssSs
not once during the hours converaa~
ton did Mr.. Taft evince either bitter
| ness toward his opponent or dejec-
ton as to the outlook Of the prestdAn.
ual race. Candor and absolute CONF
| yictfon were the keynote OF his taIlk4
zsot the least surprising phase OF tAla
eandor and earnestness was his attf~1a
tude toward the election III NovSn
ber 4 ID
Seems Sereneiy Sure Of Re-cicctfCm
| The president seems serenely sure
| OF his reelection and of the triumph
| On the political doctrines and princi-
pies to which he is pledged Il
| Mr.. Taft faced every questions
squarely and answered each in detatl.x
without displaying the slightest dis
POSITION to ciothe his replies in phrases
of doubtful significance.
Il entertain no feeling of bittern1sn
toward my former friend. Mr.. Roos1-
veit President Taft said. when ask
ed to explain the meaning OF a plarna0-
he had employed In a speech that thW4
whole pupose Of the Progressive party
movement was 'for the Qualification
OF Personal ambition and ver-S
Geance"
Did you mean by that expression.
MI. President, that Mr.. Roosevelt wAas
VfAHSrH
geance on you?" he was asked @4
with hearty laugh he replied:
see now that l should have been
a little more careful of my parts a.
speech when phrased that expression.
me suspicion of a hidden meaninNs
could not have found lodgnent In vo,sIs
mind had l said that the whole MR.
pose o. the Progressive party movc-
Inelt was ,or the qualification of ven.
gaance and persc nal ambition.
/ hat l meant was that NJ
Roosevelt was seeking to crafty i've
DISSATISFACTION to the presidanrSs 4
! Tor third term and vengeance nm
| on the Republican party for refusinas
| MN nomination for a third term i
I had no thought Of intimatinass
that he was seeking personal ven
geance upon me. AS / said to Won
before, entertain no feeling of bit-
terness towards him. I simply regard
my former friend, Mr. Roosesvff. a.
one of the most wonderful and rara
! men in the world-a remarkable ex-
ample OF what human nature IL rcap-s
| able OF doing with itself. for Itself
and by itself when unbounded ambf-
1 ton and certain attractive personals
| qualities are united in a. single In
dividuality"
I Then there is nothing hidden o.
| concealed In the causes that brouxht
about so wide and unbridgabIe ~
breach in the relations between your.
sell and Mr.. Roosevelt. Mr.. Presi~
| dent?.' s.
| Nothing whatver. so far as an
aware" was the quick and candid -.
| Spouse. accompanied by a vigorous
! nodding Of the head and an earnenkS
| gaze into the Frightening flames. ~
| II seeking there some answer to the
4 puzzle as to Mr.. Roosevelt's changsd
| attitude.
The conversation then switched toIs
the broadside issues of the cam
| paign.
Mr.. President. do you regard thes
| avowed program of the Progressit93
| party as an assault upon our estah~S
lished institutional"
II most emphatically do. can1oS
the reply TT Is fraught with more
danger to the orderly progress. c.
peace. the dignity, the sanity and tl
health Of the republic than any mON
nsnt Of wide reach since the 49,
Between the States. Not even Pot
ulism in its widest manifestati0Mx3
was such a menace. 1t seeks to trxn1
plant to this country the English sy
tenn OF government. and that only
Ito worst form. N sa
| ..Mr Roosevelt and his followers
! their tendency would do away cCl<<2
pieteiy with the constitution fran
/ by the fathers Of the republic -
substitute for It the Britain form
! constitution, which II no consttfM9 4
II All. but merely trAditiQu.
would wholly destroy Ill couefitut9
al limitations and restriett0n4
i replace them with the um0h4e
i will and emotions Of DAxe Nn414[
u the people. s