The Omaha morning bee., 1925-03-30
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT HAS Ely ES ON NATIONAL POLIII

thought he might tolerate a little ad
vice. | do not suppose it will do the
least good, but l wrote on the of
chance.
My weeks railroading in the wesi
put the finishing touch and | am now
feeling completely tired out. l hope
TO have six weeks of pra etically
solid rest before me, for ! have
worked pretty hard during the last
four years.
Give my best to Mamie and The
the papers about you.
Ever yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
.Garret A. Hobart, Vice president OF
The United States.
Following Is the principal part Of the
long letter which Governor HooseNeli
in the foregoing letter to Senator Lodse)
July l, 1899.
Hon. John Hay,
Secretary of State,
Washington, d. C.
NV Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Next to the man who is importun-
ing for office ranks in the scale of
nuisances and bores the man who
gives advice. l am about to put my
self in the latter category.
If you think it worth while after
reading this letter, pray show 1t to
the president.
AS a preliminary, let me say what
take for granted you know. viz:
that l am heartily In favor OF Pres
ident Mckinley's denomination. as
have said publicly. Moreover, | am
heartily in favor Of Mr.. Hobarts re-
nomination for the vice presidency.
and I have no earthly interest in
what l am going to say except my
interest as an American in the first
place, and as republican in the
second.
l am uneasy at the way things
seem to be going both in the Philip
pines and in Cuba. In Cuba we may
lay up for ourselves infinite trouble
If we do not handle the people with
a proper mixture OF firmness, cour-
tesy and tact. In the Philippines we
are certain to invite disaster unless
We send ample forces, and what is
even more important, unless We put
these forces under some first class
man. Both in Cuba and In the Phil
ippines, what We obviously need, and
need at once, IS to have some man
put In supreme command in whom
We can absolutely trust and TO whom
We give the widest liberty OF action.
Wood In Cuba.
All this is OF course sufficiently
obvious as to seem almost trite. The
great point is in choosing the men.
most earnestly urge the wisdom OF
the president putting Major General
Wood in command OF all Cuba, with
a complete liberty to do what he
deems wlsest in shaping our policy
for the island. and with complete
control over every other military and
civil officer. and | also very earnest
ly urge that Maj. Gen. Fra ncis
Y. Greene be recalled to the service
the Philippines. being allowed the
freest possibly hand, with instruc-
tions not simply TO defend Manila
put to assume aggressive operations
and to harass and smash the insur-
genst IN every way until they are
literally beaten into peace. enter
This does not represent any sudden
impulse on my part. but 1t Is my very
best judgment. arrived at after
months of thought = months during
which I have gotten hundreds of
sidelights from soldiers. sailors, civil
lans and. In short. eye witnesses of
every kind in the Philippines and
Cuban matters. We need tact and
judgment just as much as We need
firmness in Cuba now. Wood is a
born diplomat. just as he Is born
soldier. | question II any nation in
the world has now. or has had with.
in recent time, anyone so nearly ap-
preaching the ideal of a military ad-
ministrator OF the kind now reauir.
ed In Cuba. Perhaps one or two OF
the Englshmen who have appeared
n peculiar faculty for getting on with
the Spaniards and Cubans. They like
him, trust him. and down IN their
heart. are afraid OF him. IIe always
pays Difference not only to their prin.
ciples but to their preiudices. lie is
ecrupulously court teous and polite. lie
understs nds their needs, material and
moral. and he also understands their
sensitiveness and their spirit OF pune.
tilio. Finally, he is able. while show.
Ing them entire courtesy and
thoughtful consideration. to impress
upon them the fact that there cnn
he no opposition when once he has
made up his mind.