Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-11-21

ait Woulu respond 10 MS wishes, partiC-
ularly as to Garfield.
Others knew that Garfield was not to
be kept and that Ballinger was to take
his place while Mr.. Roosevelt was still
assuming to the contrary Mr..
Taft told more than one friend that he
did not consider Garfield and Straus of
ca binet size and therefore would not
keep them. But he did not say this to
Mr.. Roosevelt He did say II to one Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's confdants. apparently
supposing that this gentleman would pass
the information on to the president; but
that gentleman did not regard It as his
right or duty to do 90. II seemed to
him that, inasmuch az Mr.. Roosevelt
and Mr.. Taft we're the closest of friends
one the sponsor and the other the pro-
tege, with gratitude. loyalty, affection
and frankness subsisting between them
1t would be an impertinence for an out
slider to attempt to convey to either of
them Information which Of course he
must already have had at FIRST hand
ROOSEVELT IN THE DARK.
THE result was that it WAS long
time before Mr.. Roosevelt learned that
he did not have enough Influence with
the incoming administration to secure
the retention OF his friend Garfield, and
when he did learn the fact he also
learned that others had had the informa-
ton long before II came to him IT Ia
unnecessary to attempt to describe the
effect of this upon Mr.. Roosevelt.
These were matters affecting the per-
sonal relations OF the two men. But II
was not long before evidence came to
Mr.. Roosevelt that his protege was not
coming I'D to expectations as to his
pledges to continue the Roosevelt poll
c!es 1t will be remembered that during
the closing days Of the Roosevelt admin
.stration there was progressive upris-
Ing in Congress. insurgents they were
called then, n protest against the Joe
Cannon regime in the House primarily.
but in effect an effort to get away from
the old oligarchical system of control in
Congress- At the same time President
Roosevelt was engaged in a bitter strug-
gle against the Cannon forces over the
secret service appropriations and the
charges made By Speaker Cannon's lieut.
tenant, Representative Tawney. that the
president had used secret service officers
to spy upon senator's and representatives
This was one Of the most bitter OF
all Mr.. Roosevelt's contests with the
people Of Congress. and II was war
IN which he naturally was most anxious
to come out victorious. Involved in 1t
to a certain extent was the question
whether or not Speaker Cannon should
be chosen for another term and the
whole question of toryism versus lib
eraism in Congress.
While this struggle was raging Presi-
dent elect Taft arrived in Washington, set
up his little White House and entered
upon series Of negotiations with Speak
er Cannon and the tory forces OF Capt.
toll Hill. President Roosevelt was hut
poorly If at all informed as to the ma
ture and progress of these negotia tons
and presently was astounded to learn tina,
President.elect Taft had made a treaty
Of peace with the speaker and the forces
represented by the speaker. which in
cluded the Cannon Aldrtch regime, known
to the country as standpat. rea ctionary
or anti-progressive.
with this fact before him President
that the man he had placed in the presi-
election pledges and gone over to the
enemy. In fact. his enemies made their
boasts that while they had not heen
strong enough to stand against the IN
fusnoe of Roosevelt and nominate ono
OF their own number for president, they
had done the next best thing. which was
&c capture the man the president did
nominate and elect.
IT WAS THE LAST STRAW.
'President- elect Taft's treaty Of peace
with the Cannon forces was the las,
! straw needed to break down the friend.
| ship between the outgoing and the in.
coming president. From that moment Mr.
Roosevelt had no real confidence In Mr.
| Taft and felt that he had been betrayed
by his protege both on personal and po'
litical grounds. Again Mr. Roosevelt was
too proud to show HE hurt; ostensibIy
the old friendship was unbroken. ant
among those who never suspected thu
truth was Mr.. TAFT.
Colonel Roosevelt left Washington
thoroughly dhgusted and was glad t
put u I'll behind him and sail for Africt
for q years outing. The day he sailst
occurred one Of the most extraordinar,
|
sengsr from the White House broush
him 4 little gift from the President, &C
companied by q farewell letter wishing
the colonel q pleasant voyage. thankinl
him for his favor and concluding Will
these words. quoted verbatim:
Next to my brother Charles. 1 thinl
I owe more to you than to any othe
living man.
Colonel Roossvelt's anger over Thu
next to my brother Charles was yer!
great. He took It as . personal affront
To be rated second to a man who ha,
merely put up . sum OF money. he VIII
had used the power Of his Office and hi
party leadership and his personal prestg
and skill to make one OF his lieutenant
lis successor. and then to play secon,
fiddle. In the estimation OF that success
or. to one who had signed few checks
1t was with this last cruel thrust Of in
gratitude-'next to my brother Charles
ringing in his ears that Colonel Roose
welt sailed away to Africa. thorough!
convinced that from both the persona
and the public viewpoints mis- selection
Of Mr.. Taft to be his hsr was the great
est blunder OF his public career
During his sojourn in Africa Nj
Roosevelt received q great number o
letters from his friends at home tellinl
him that the new president had forgot
ten his pledges to stand by the Rooss
welt policies and had. in the belief OF tn
writer's. gone completely over to the op
position. After his return to Americi
Colonel Roosevelt became convinced tina
this was In q large measure true. Ask
ed one day for his opinion OF the Taft ad