Evening star., 1922-11-15
Letters of Franklin K. Lane
Revelations of the War Cabinet and Intimate
Views of National and World Figures by the For.
mer Secretary of the Interior.
INSTALLMENT No. IA.
Copyright. lsee. by Anne W. Iane.)

INSTALLMENT No. IA.
Mr.. Lane was democrat and a
party man, but his Americanism was
much more pronounced than his par
tisanship. In one of his letters, al
ready published. he stated that he
would be disposed to vote for Hoove,
for President, on whatever ticket
nominated, and he never made any
attempt to conceal his warm admira-
tion for Theodore Roosevelt. In
April, 1910, when Col. Roosevelt was
returning from his African hunting
trip. Mr.. Lane wrote the following
letter to tue former President:
'Mr. Kellogg tells me that he ex-
poets to see you in Europe. and /
avail myself of his offer to carry q
word of welcome to you, inasmuch as
l must leave for Europe the day
after your arrival in New York, the
President having appointed me as =
delegate to the International Rail
way Congress at Bern.
1.-The country Is awaiting you anx
iously-not out of mere curiosity t.
know what your attitude will bt
but to lead 1t. to give it direction
The public opinion which you devel-
oped in favor of the square dea
is stronger today than when you lef
and your personal following is large
today than it ever has beer
There is no feeling Cor if ther
Is any 1t is negligible) that tn
President (TafD has been conscious
ly disloyal to the policies which yor
inaugurated. or to his public prom
ises. He is patriotic. conscientious
and lovable. This was your own view
as expressed to me. and this view has
been confirmed by my personal ex-
perience with him. 1t is also. be
lieve, the judgment Of the countr
at large. But the people do not fec
that they control the government
that their interests will be safeguard
ed by a relationship that is purel
diplomatic between the White Hous
and Congress. In short, we have
new consciousness of democrac'
largely resulting from your admin
istration. and 1t is such that III
character of government which salts
fed the people of twenty years ag'
is found lacking today. PRACTICAL
all the criticism to which this ad
ministration has been subjecte'
arises out Of the feeling of the pen
pie that their opinions and desire
are not sufficiently consulted. and
they are suspicious of everything
and everybody that is not open anf
frank with them.
"Outside of a few of the large,
states, the entire country is insur
gent. and insurgency means revolt
against taking orders. The prospec
is that the next House will be dem
ocratic, but the democrats apparently
lack q realization of the many new
problems upon which the country is
divided Their success would not in
dicate the acceptance Of any positiv
program of leeislation; 1t would b.
a vote of lack Of confidence in tn
republican party because. it has al
lowed apparent party interest to ris'
superior to public good. The pros
pect Is that every measure which
Congress will pass at this session
will be wise and in line with your
policiee, but the people do not feel
that they are passing the bills.
"I have presumed to say this much.
thinking that perhaps you would re-
gard NV opinion as entirely unbiased.
and in the hope that I might throw
some light upon what regard as the
fundamental trouble which has to
be dealt with. Whether you choose
to re-enter political life or not. men
of all parties desire your leadership
and will accept your advice as they
will that Of none other.
From Berlin Mr.. Lane received from
CO, Roosevelt, dated May 13. 1910,
these lines:
1 think your letter most In
teresting. AS far as can judge you
have about sized up the situation
right. With hearty good wishes,
faithfully yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
In December, 1911. Mr.. Lane again
wrote Col. Roosevelt, as follows:
"I have been thinking over what
said Yesterday, and I am going to pre-
sume upon my friendship and. I may
say. my affection for you to make
suggestion:
"Even though the call comes from
united party and under circumstances
the most fattering. do not accept 1t
unless you are convinced of two
things: (1) That you are needed from
a national standpoint and not merely
from a party standpoint; (2> that you
are certain of election.
sacrifice for ones country is splen-
did. but sacrifice for ones party is
foolish. You must feel assured be-