Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-05-06
FEARED OBLIVION
AS VICE PRESIDENT
Roosevelt Pleaded With Plat
TO Save Him From Post.
IT WOULD ONLY BORE HIM.


When Governor Of New York, to Son.
ator, Now Dead, 10 Produced by
Barnes In His Libel Suit Against Elk
President.
In the course OF the hearing OF the
libel suit brought against him by VII
liam Barnes the following interesting
letter written by Colonel Roosevelt was
produced.
1t was written while the colonel was
governor OF New York and appealed
to Senator Plat TO save him from
oblivion by being vice president under
President Mckinley:
Executive Chamber.
State of New York. Feb. !. 1900.
Hon. T. c. Plat. Senate Chamber. Wash
ington:
MY Dear Senator Platt-First and least
important, IL you happen to have seen the
Evening Post recently, you ought TO be
amused, for IL is moralizing with lofty
Indignation over the cringing servility
have displayed In the matter OF the in
surance supc intendent.
fear 1t Will soon take the view that II
cannot possibly support you as long as
you associate with me.
Now, as TO serious matters. 1 have. OF
course done a great deal OF thinking
about the vice presidency since the talk
had with you, followed by the letter
from Lodge and the visit from Payne OF
Wisconsin. | have been reserving the
matter TO talk over with you. but in view
OF the publication in the Sun this morn
ing ! would like TO begin the converse
ton. as ii were. by just line or two now.
- q
have in the judgment Of you and Lodge,
Vet | can't help feeling moro and more
that the vice presidency is not an office
i'm which / could do anything and not
an ONCE in which a man who is still Wig
orous and not past middle life has much
| chance of doing anything.
AS you know, 1 am OF an active nature
in spite OF all the work and all the worry.
and very Ia Sely because OF your constant
courtesy and consideration. my dear SEN
ator. | have thoroughly enjoyed being
governor; | have kept every promise. ex-
pressed or implied, | made on the stump.
and | feel that the Republican party Is
stronger before the state because OF my
incumbency Certainly everything is be-
ing managed now on perfectly straight
basis and every office is as clean as
whistle.
/ Now | should like TO be governor for
another term. especially IL we are able TO
take hold OF the canals in serious shape.
but as vice president / don't see that
there is anything | could do. l would
simply be a presiding officer and that
should find bore.
AS YOU know. | am man OF moderate
means although | am little better OF
than the Suns article would indicatel.
and ] should have 10 live very simply in
Washington and could not entertain in
any way as Mr. Hobart and Mr. Morton
ent ertained.
My children are all growing up, and
find the burden OF their education con-
stantly heavier. so that am by no means
sure that l ought TO go on In public life
at all providing some remunerative work
provided itself.
The only reason that ! should like TO
20 on is that as have not been money
maker, l feel rather in honor bound 10
leave my children the equivalent In the
way OF substantial sum OF actual
/ achievement in politics or letters.
! Now. as governor. l can achieve some
thing, but as vice president should
achieve nothing The more / look at 1t
the less | feel as IL the vice presidency
offered anything TO me that would war
rant my taking IT, OF course ] shall not
say anything until ] hear from you. and
/ possibly not until ! see you, but i did
want you to know just how | felt.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT