Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-03-07
ROOSEVELT and TAFT
Break Began Before Taft Was In.
stalled in the White House.
Row Over Loeb In Cabinet-RooseveIt
frritated Because He Couid Not
Dominate the Taft AdminSs-
trat1on.
fFrom the Correspondent New York

The newspapers Of March 9, 1909, record. |
ca an Impressive scene that had taken |
piace IN the Senate chamber just after
william II. Taft had been sworn in as
president of the United States.
Inen the ex-President," says The Suns
account OF the Inauguration, started to
ieave the chamber with Senator Knox ns
an escort As he passed around the
rostrum Mr.. Taft was coming down. Mr.
Roosevelt ran UP the steps and grasped
President Taft by the shoulders. The
President grnsped his predecessor in the
same way. For second they Rugged
each other and then shook hands Wig
orously."
This occurrence testifying more dra-
matically than any other to the warm
friendship that existed between William
II. TAFT and Theodore Roosevelt three
brief years ago, was recalled by hum
dreds In Washington tonight when 1t be-
came known that Roosevelt has entered
the race for the 1912 nomination. and the
questions were asked What Ia the ex-
PLANTATION? What has brought about the
change In the relations between these
two men,
Republicans who know both Roosevelt
and Taft intimately will tell you now
that they realized from the time Taft
was elected that break was bound to
come between Taft and Roosevelt. They
credit Roosevelt with having been abso-
lutely sincere In his early manifestations
of regard and affection for Taft, but
they say they were certain in the end
that Roosevelt's ambition. his love Of
power. his desire to dominate the Taft
Administration. his habit OF magnifying
innocent acts into intended sights and
his disposition to listen to the tale OF
trOublemakers would lead to an estrange-
ment
The Irritation on the Colonel's part.
so his friends say. began even before
Mr.. Taft had been installed at the White
House.
When Mr.. Taft was making up his
Cabinet. Roosevelt is understood to have
made only one suggestion and that was
| William Loeb. Jr., who had served for
years as Roosevelt's secretary. should
have place in the Taft Cabinet. At that
time the country was specializing on
whether Roosevelt was to dominate the
Taft Administration. The assertion was
being made that Roosevelt, having NOM
mated Taft and having contributed large
ly TO his election, would in considerable
measure dictate the affairs Of the Admin
istratioi. 1t was chiefly to put an end to
these rumors and establish the Taft Ad-
ministraton on its own basis that the
President turned Loeb down as Cabinet
possibility. He offered Mr.. Roosevelt's
secretary any other executive office with
in his gift. The President eventually took
only one man from the Roosevelt Ad-
ministration. George Won l.. Meyer. now
Secretary Of the Navy.
Another occurrence before Mr.. Taft
was installed in the White House irritated
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Roosevelt re-
scented the appearance OF Mr.. Taft in
Washington in the closing days OF his
administration. Mr.. Taft came to the ma
tonal capital hve or six days before the
date of the Inauguration as a guest OF
W. J. Boardman. With the appearance
Of the incoming President the limelight
Immediately shifted from the White
House to the Boardman residence. A long
string of prominent callers trooped to
the Boardman home day after day and
the newspapers reported fully the doings
of the President-elect President Roose-
Welt is said to have commented disparak-
ingly to members of Congress on the ac-
ton Of Mr.. Taft in having come to Wash
ington and undertaken conferences with
statesmen before the Roosevelt Admins
tration had breathed its last.
But Mr.. Roosevelt after his departure
from Washington gave evidence OF what
some republicans regard as sincere
desire to let President Taft establish his
administration on his own basis. These
| republicans add. however. that Colonel
Roosevelt while maintaining an attitude
OF isolation always hoped and expected
to he consulted In regard to the policies
that President Taft should inaugurate
and carry out. 1t vas in this manner
that he expected to exercise his influence
but Mr.. Taft, while endeavorinE to adhere
to the so-called Roosevelt policies ~ ir..
Interpreted them, early gave evidence
of an intention to think and act for him
self
| In the few weeks following the inaugu-
ration, before Mr.. Roosevelt sailed for
Africa, frequent letters passed between
the two men, and while the Colonel was
on his big hunt Mr.. Taft received several
communications from him describing his
| experiences. From the first. however.
there was an apparent restraint between
the two in regard to the discussion OF
legislation and other affairs Of the admin
istratiOn. Republicans In Washington
have been inclined to the opinion that
the President himself has resented the
popular impression that Roosevelt nomin-
ated and elected him. and this feeling
has undoubtedly operated as n bar to the
continuance Of close relations
Roosevelts friends themselves ac-
knowledge. however. that one OF the
Offences" which the Colonel harbors
against Taft was the character OF a
letter which President Taft wrote TO Col,
Roosevelt Just before he sailed for
Africa. The President sent Major Archi-
bald W. Butt. his military aid. to New
York to deliver this letter to the Colonel
rs h. was embarking. In this letter
President Taft wished the Colonel !,
pleasant journey and thanked him again
for what he had done for him The Pres,-
dents letter is said to have closed with
the expression:
Il owe more to Charles p. Taft and
YOU than to any other two men on earth, 4"
or substantially those words. Rooseveit's
friends have made no secret of his anger
| over that letter, They tell you he bran
dished 1t and cried:
Good lord So he puts money above
brains, does he?'
Whether that was n tactf,il letter for
the President to write Roosevelt IL q
question for political philosophers to
solve. but the President has told his
| friends that he intended to pay Roosevelt
hn oh -.