The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-02-26
ROOSEVELT AND TAFT
LONG At ODDS
Break Began Before Taft Was In
stalled in the White
House.
ROW OVER LOEB IN CABl NET
Roosevelt lrritated Because He Could
Not Dominate the Taft Ad-
ministration.
ROW OVER LOEB IN CABINET

papers Oh MarCn D, INV. TeCOTueO al
impressive scene that had taken place
in the Senate chamber Just after william
II. Taft had been sworn in as President
Of the United States.
Then the ex-President. says TBE SuH's
account OF the inauguration. started
to leave the chamber with senator Knox
as an escort. As he passed around the
rostrum Mr.. Taft was coming down. MIR.
Roosevelt ran up the steps and grasped
President Taft by the shoulders. The
President grasped his predecessor in the
same way. For a second they hugged
each other and then shook hands Wig
orously-
This occurrence. testifyiug 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 hundreds
in Washington tonight when it became
known that Roosevelt hes entered the
race for the 1912 nomination. and the
questions were asked: what is the ex-
planationp What has brought about the
change in the relations between these two
mem"
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 Admin
istration. his habit of maguifying inno-
cent acts into intended sights and his
disposition to listen to the tales OF trouble
makers would lead to an estrangement.
The irritation on the Colonel's part.
| so his friends say, began even before MIR
Taft had been ins; allied at the White House.
When Mr.. Taft was making up his Cabi-
net. Roosevelt is understood to have made
only one suggestion and that was William
Loeb. Jr.. who had served for years as
Roosevelts secretary. should nave a
place in the Taft Cabinet. At that time
the country was specializing on whether
Roosevelt was TO dominate the Taft Ad-
ministration. The assertion was being
made that Roosevelt. having nominated
Taft and having contributed largely to
his election would in considerable measure
dictate the affairs Of the administration.
1t was chiefly to put an end to these rumors
and establish the Taft Administration on
it's own basis that the President turned
Loeb down as Cabinet possibility. He
offered Mr.. Roosevelt's secretary any
other executive Office within his gift. The
President eventually took only one man
from the Roosevelt Administration. George
Won l.. Meyer. now Secretary Of the Navy.
Another occurr ence before MIR. Taft
was installed in the White House irrita,ed
President Roosevelt. MIR. Roosevelt re-
sented the appearance OF Mr.. Taft in WASH
ington in the closing days of his admins
| tration. Mr.. Taft came to the national
capital five or six days before the date of
the Inauguration as guest Of W. J. Board
/ man. With the appearance Of the incom-
ing President the limelight Immediately
shift ed from the White House to the
Boardman residence. A long string Of
prominent callers trooped to the Board
man home day after day and the news
papers reported fully the doings OF the
President-elect. President Roosevelt is
said to have commented disparagingly to
members Of Congress on the action OF
MIR. Taft in having come to Washington
and undertaken conferences with states
men before the Roosevelt Administr ration
had breathed its last.
But Mr. Roosevelt. after his departure
from Washington. gave evidence OF what
some Republicans regard as a sincere
desire to let President Taft establish his
administration or his own basis These
Republicans add. no viewer. that Col.
Roosevelt. while maint aiming an attitude
OF isolation. always hoped and ed
to be consulted in regard to the policies
that President Taft should inaugurate Q
and carry out. II was in this man ner
but Mr.. Taft while endea voring TO adhere
to the so-calied Roosevelt policies as he
int terpreted them. early gave evidence
of an intention 10 think and act for him.
self
In the few weeks following the inaug,I-
ration. before MIR. Roosevelt sailed for
Africa. frequent letters passed between
| the two men. and while The Colonel was
on his big hunt MIR. 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 10 the opinion that the
President himself has resented the popu-
fdf ctsloH nOOstNtlt nominated
and elected him. and this feeling has un-
doubtedly operated as a bar 20 the con-
tinuance OF close relations.
koosevelt's 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. Roose.
welt lust before he sailed for Africa. The
President sent Major Archibald ". Putt
his military aid. to New York to deliye,
this letter to the Colonel az he was en-.
bark ing. In this lettcr President Taf,
wished the Colonel a pleasant journev
and thanked him again for what he had
done for him The Presidents letter is
said to have closed with the expression:
Il owe moro to Charles y. Taft and yor
than to any other two mon on earth, "
or smbst tantially those words .koose
welt = friends have made no secret OF his
anger over that letter. They tell YOU he
brandished it and cried;
Good lord! so he puts money above
brains. does he:"
Whether that was a taotful letter FOR
| the ~ lesitient to write Roosevelt is n
question for political philosophers to
solve but the President has told his fNends
that he intended to pay Roosevelt the
highest compliment at his command.
" ith the refusal of President Taft tc
allow Clifford pinchot, Roose, elt's friend
to dominate the Affairs of tho depart.
ment OF Agriculture. followed by his dis
missal from ohce. the tale bearers and the
troublemasers began to get busy. Mr.
| l'inchot himself travelled to Italy to We,