New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-15
HANDS, HEAD AND HEART
Roosevelt Uses All in His Work for
the Country.
To the Editor OF The Tribune

To the Editor or The Tribune
Sir: Justice Hughes, in the eyes of the
average American, is by character, training
and temperament admirably suited to the po-
s.tion he holds as member of the Supreme
Court of the United States. The very quail
ties which render him almost indispensable in
his present honored service to his country
ere If questionable value as an executive,
where decisions must be quick and instructive
TO be effective.
Even in the eyes Of his stanchest support
ers, Mr.. Taft, as President, was handicapped
as an executive by the so-called judicial tenn
permanent. and no small part of the difficulty
which developed in the first year Of his ad-
lministration in connection with the Interior
Department and which cost his party the con-
troll of Congress, must be ascrbed to his lack
Of knowledge Of details and his trust IN his
advisers. The President of the United States
should be a good mixer" and understand
men and their motives at first hand. More
o,cr. the cold, judicial temperament, accom-
panied with the penny n-thesot" smile, has
little to command popular support, without
which no executive has ever attained the
highest success.
II is significant fact that the politicians
of the bascr sort are always looking for q
man of the judicial" temperament, solely
fer the greater opportunities afforded their
system of predatory gain, under a man who
has been studying laws and decisions in the
abstract rather than men and things In the
concrete. The case Of Governor Pennypacker,
elevated from the bench at the behest of the
organization, and the nationwide scandal OF
the IIarr sburg Capitol, is but one of the
many examples of the unsuitablity OF jul
dicial temperament and training to efficient
executive action.
In view of these facts. TO draft man from
position to which he is by universal agree
ment ideally adapted and to force him, aga INST
his often expressed will, into a position for
which he has absolutely no inclination and
little training, seems TO run counter to reason
and common sense, especially as it seems the
only way the politicians can devise for elim!-
mating Theodore Roosevelt 1t is not that they
love Hughes more, but Roosevelt less.
The sooner the great majority of the Amer
lean people of all walks in life who want
Roosevelt see very clearly why they want him.
the better it will be for the Republican party
and the nation under his control. More than
year ago he was writing clearly and con-
vincingly in support of preparedness, when
the President was winning the applause of
the unthinking by the doctrine that one could
be too proud TO fight. The ability to see
ali cad Is Of paramount Importance, even In
the business world, and the experience Of
wears has demonstrated that no man pos
sesses this quality TO greater degree thar
Theodore Roosevelt.
A quarter of a century ago practically all
the ports and harbors of the South were
closed every autumn by the ravages OF yellow
fever. Probably nine-tenths of the people
have forgotten entirely that it was Roosc-
yelt's vigorous action and his personal visit,
when President, to the stricken region with
his staff that put TO an end for all time the
ravages OF that once dreaded disease. or
equal importance were the better remembered
successes in settling the coal strike and end
:ng the japanese war with Russia.
A violent opponent Of Mr.. Roosevelt has
said with implied disdain, that he is the
greatest cheer leader in the United States,
that the raising of his hand and the sight Of
his teeth through smile are worth ten
minutes cheer in any audience. No doubt
this is true but il is true because every n
Cividual in such a crowd believes that back
of that smile is real human being. with
definite, fixed convictions, with courage to
fight for them, if need be, and with wisdom
enough TO avoid fighting, IL ample prepare
ton and good, sound common sense, rather
than vague Delphc utterance have a
chance, such as they would have with Roose-
welt as President.
With the close of the war in Europe will
'coms issues requiring the highest order Of