Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-03-22
FORGET OLD DAYS.
Must Taft and Roosevelt if They
Do Kind of Fighting That's
il Ta3C.
LIKE DAM0.l h,M.0 PYTHlAS
Ties of Affection Broken by coIoneps
Candidacy Not Equalled by Any
Who Have Served for Friend
ships Comparison.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Westinghouse William II. Taft
and Theodore Roosevelt are to do the
kind OF fighting for the next three
months that it is in them to do they
must keep their minds off the old
days" 1t was the politician-legislato
who has known both men intimately
from the day when they began their
Washington life, who said this.
President Taft did not believe until
six o'clock Sunday, February rs. that
Theodore Roosevelt was to declare
himself. even in effect, an active can
didate for the nomination He hung
on after other men had let go their
hold to a faith that something in
friendship would keep the colonel
from saying the definite word which
would put him into the field as rival
sustained him In executive endeavor.
Mr.. Roosevelt's friends say that Mr..
Taft broke the bonds of friendship
when he departed three years ago
from the promised path The blame is
thrown one way by some men and an
other way by others. but wherever 1t
belongs the friendship seemingly has
gone, though 1t may be, as Mr.. Taft
is reported to have said recently to
one of his friends, that one day after
the troubles time when retirement
comes. it will return.
Damon and Pythias, David and Jo-
nathan. Aeneas and Fidus Achates
oil he hz on
faithfully for friendships compare
sons must pass when the once exist
ing affection OF Theodore Roosevelt
and William H. Taft for each other is
considered.
The Ranking Officer.
There is a Washington newspaper
story to the effect that the society
editor of local journal went to the
White House one morning when Mr.
Roosevelt was president to get some
Information on precedence and while
there he asked some one who the
ranking officer of the cabinet was
The president overheard the question
and turning said: The secretary OF
war" So he was to Theodore Roose-
welt.
MANY things showing the affection
between Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr. Taft
are brought to mind today by the
breach between two men who once
came as near to being one as human
circumstances would admit. One
night in December, 1907. two or three
months before Mr.. Taft became an
announced candidate for the nomina
e.on' s-,sss.s 49, vs,4s Sa,,aa sat;d
ooe ,iiees - 80 ~ ..a,s,
."t ..o
iee,e,a 1 - -. - a.
poiioies NC Su enas - w
NJ. mn" NJ. neI,.,as H. -,
.e...,nt,, &c 20 tho nronor name YVES
- - .aia 20 ,hafoct that long ha
60 ~ NJ onv Thought that ono day
~ ,,,aht ha nrosidont of the united
g. ~ voc th,nL,rg along lines ri
-. ~ oonstdarad 10 be nroner nuh
~ aol,o,as ana wonder,ng ~ ave,
~ u,,aht he o,ven legislative afrect
WrhuaS 1ondar,pg he found ont the,
-. 80 NC. ,h,n,,,ng along ~.
$50 ,,ras and o,so wonderino n his
thorohts might one dav take the form
- ,ea,s,o,,an Tho other man Mr.
paasans,t sofa wo. wiIl,au n TAR
A. ~. co., o.ma yror Mr. Roose
~. ~ aotared into a corrasnondenc,
w,.h nv Toft axcbangad Views anf
sn,n,ana and found that thew wer.
,dantical
story Pleased arr.
It was only few weeks ago thai
President Taft was told this story Of