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

r(eNeu III tine Wnite HOUSE may
Imagined
When this was discussed in the Roose-
welt family. as Of course It was. It pre-
scented an opportunity for recalling a
prediction uttered nearly year before
by one member Of the family who had
habituaily kept we'll in the background
but who had nevertheless watched al
ways with keen eyes and great intuitive-
ness the characters passed In review intne
political activities Of the administration
The prediction had been that II President
Roosevelt picked Mr.. Taft for his sue
cessor that gentleman would not be found
measuring UP to the standard Of loyalty
and true friendship which the colonel
himself expected and that in the event
of Mr.. Taft's nomination and election
trouble would come In way which Mr.
Roosevelt did not then dream Of. This
prediction was recalled Yith an interro-
cation as 10 whether or not It was not
already becoming true.
In this period there were not as many
conferences between President Roosevelt
and President-eleot Taft as people natur-
ally supposed there would be. And the
few conferences that did take place con-
corning the policies Of the incoming adj
ministration were not az frank and full
as would seem natural and right under
ell the circumstances. The lac Of frank
rcss. the disinclination to engage In full
discussion of new plans and purposes
was chiefly on the side of Mr.. Taft. Mr.
Roosevelt very early discovered that Mr.
raft's mental attitude appeared to be
that of n man who was determined to
go 1t alone. to work out his destiny
without advice or counsel from his pred
tcessor.
DISCLA1MS DESIRE TO DICTATE.
Mr.. Roosevelt had no desire to die
tate. He made no effort to dictate poll
cies or appointments. In fact he dis
tinctly stated to Mr. Taft: You are the
responsible man: you will have to work
II out IN your own way. But it seemed
to Mr. Roosevelt that Mr.. Taft accept
ed this with too great alacrity and liter
alness. He did not even care much for
the counsel or advice Of the man who
had picked him UP and made him pres!-
dent. Although Mr.. TAFT md more than
once pledged himself. in the most solemn
manner, to continue the Roosevelt poll
c!es. now that ne was about to enter up
on the administration he seemed strangely
author Mr.. Roosevelt thus early gained
the impression that some sort OF change
had come over Mr. Taft; that the new
/ president had fallen to some extent under
other influences. and he naturally had his
| opinions as to what those influences
were.
1T was inevitable with these condi-
tons. with what appeared to Mr.. Roose-
Welt to be a new and unexpected sort Of
Taft to deal with, that pride should COM
pei him to an unwonted degree of re-
eerve. He would not and could not Of
for suggestions and advice which appar-
emily we're not wanted or sought. The
result was that Mr. Roosevelts con-
ferences with Mr. Taft were Of little
importance. They did not get down to
the heart Of things at all Mr.. Taft was
bubbling with happiness and good spirits;
he showed affection toward his former
chief: outwardly no change in their re-
lations was visible. But as a ma tier Of
fact the change was very great Mr..
Roosevelt, puzzled. sore. hurt, disap-
pointed. proud, became more and more
reserved He more and more felt that
he was out OF IT, that the new broom
was to sweep clean. in It's own way.
without any help from him. He was too
proud to show his hurt and disappoint-
ment: and he met Mr.. Taft's good COM
radeship with the best imitation he could
make OF the same on his part. So we'll
did Mr. Roosevelt play his part 30 we'll
did he disguise his actual feelings that
} Mr.. Taft. overjoyed with his good for
} tune and full of his own plans. IDEAS and
importance. never suspected what was in
the mind Of his friend. This continued
to the day OF inauguration.
BREAK OVER CABINET APPOINT
MENTs.
1T was in this same new but on one
eide not comprshended change Of spirit
and feeling that cabinet appointments
were discussed by the two men. There
was not nearly as much discussion OF
this sort As people have supposed. In
fact. there was very little. II has been
said and generally believed among col
!, onel Roosevelt's friends that the real
cause Of the break between the two men
was this: That Mr., TAFT had promised
, Mr. Roosevelt to keep Garfield. Meyer
and Strauss In his cabinet and to put Mr.
Loeb Into the cabinet; that he broke thsss
= promises except as to the case Of Meyer
4 and kept that part only because Senator
I Lodge. fearing Meyer would return tc
0 Massachusetts and supplant his son-in
law, Gardner as representative from the
, Gloucester district. camped on Taft'i
trail till he got Meyer kept; that Mr.
Taft afterward apologized to Mr.. Gar.
held for not keeping him. intimating thai
he had incurred obligations In the cum.
paign which made It impossible for him
y to do otherwise, and these obligati ton,
we're construed BY Mr. Taft's critics ~
meaning debt TO the Guggenhsim In
terssts which had to be repaid by the ap
bolntment OF Mr.. Baliinger.
but this story. which has had wide
circulation In gossip. does an injustice
to Mr.. Taft and Is not the truth Mr.
Roosevelt, OF course. never asked FOL
the retention In the cabinet Of any OF
his friends He carefully avoided max
Ing any such request or anything thai
. could be construed into such a request
The most he did was to suggest the val
|, II. OF such men as Garfield, Meyer anc
Stratus. and In the case Of Garfield par
ticularly he laid stress upon the fac
that the young man had not only done
great work but had made great sacri
fees and that It would be only a mattel
OF personal justice to keep him. As tc
the others Mr.. Roosevelt did not care
% much; they were able to take care
OF themselves; he did not ask that Loet
be promoted to the cabinet. only suggest
. ing that Loeb should be taken good oare
' ed