my memories of eighty years-第35章
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r three hours he talked most interestingly； and no one else contributed a word。 Nevertheless； we all enjoyed the evening； and not the least the president himself。
I used to wonder how he found time； with his great activities and engagements； to read so much。 Publishers frequently send me new books。 If I thought they would interest him I mentioned the work to him； but invariably he had already read it。
When my first term as senator expired and the question of my re…election was before the legislature； President Roosevelt gave me his most cordial and hearty support。
Events to his credit as president； which will be monuments in history； are extraordinary in number and importance。 To mention only a few： He placed the Monroe Doctrine before European governments upon an impregnable basis by his defiance to the German Kaiser； when he refused to accept arbitration and was determined to make war on Venezuela。 The president cabled： 〃Admiral Dewey with the Atlantic Fleet sails to…morrow。〃 And the Kaiser accepted arbitration。 Raissuli； the Moroccan bandit； who had seized and held for ransom an American citizen named Perdicaris； gave up his captive on receipt of this cable： 〃Perdicaris alive or Raissuli dead。〃 He settled the war between Russia and Japan and won the Nobel prize for peace。
Roosevelt built the Panama Canal when other efforts had failed for five hundred years。 As senator from his own State； I was in constant consultation with him while he was urging legislation necessary to secure the concession for the construction of the canal。 The difficulties to be overcome in both Houses seemed insurmountable； and would have been so except for the marvellous resourcefulness and power of the president。
When the Republican convention met in 1908； I was again delegate at large。 It was a Roosevelt convention and crazy to have him renominated。 It believed that he could overcome the popular feeling against a third term。 Roosevelt did not think so。 He believed that in order to make a third term palatable there must be an interval of another and different administration。 When the convention found that his decision was unalterably not to accept the nomination himself； it was prepared to accept any one he might advise。 He selected his secretary of war and most intimate friend； William Howard Taft。 Taft had a delightful personality； and won distinction upon the bench； and had proved an admirable administrator as governor of the Philippine Islands。 After Mr。 Taft's election the president； in order that the new president and his administration might not be embarrassed by his presence and prestige； went on a two years' trip abroad。
During that trip he was more in the popular mind at home and abroad than almost any one in the world。 If he reviewed the German army with the Kaiser； the press was full of the common characteristics and differences between the two men and of the unprecedented event of the guest giving advice to the Kaiser。
When he visited England he told in a public speech of his experience in Egypt； and recommended to the English Government that； if they expected to continue to govern Egypt； to begin to govern it。
All France was aghast and then hilarious when； in an address before the faculties of Sorbonne； he struck at once at the weak point of the future and power of France； and that was race suicide。
XV。 UNITED STATES SENATE
My twelve years in the Senate were among the happiest of my life。 The Senate has long enjoyed the reputation of being the best club in the world； but it is more than that。 My old friend； Senator Bacon； of Georgia； often said that he preferred the position of senator to that of either President or Chief Justice of the United States。 There is independence in a term of six years which is of enormous value to the legislative work of the senator。 The member of the House； who is compelled to go before his district every two years； must spend most of his time looking after his re…election。 Then the Senate； being a smaller body； the associations are very close and intimate。 I do not intend to go into discussion of the measures which occupied the attention of the Senate during my time。 They are a part of the history of the world。 The value of a work of this kind； if it has any value； is in personal incidents。
One of the most delightful associations of a lifetime personally and politically； was that with Vice…President James S。 Sherman。 During the twenty…two years he was in the House of Representatives he rarely was in the City of New York without coming to see me。 He became the best parliamentarian in Congress； and was generally called to the chair when the House met in committee of the whole。 He was intimately familiar with every political movement in Washington； and he had a rare talent for discriminatory description； both of events and analysis of the leading characters in the Washington drama。 He was one of the wisest of the advisers of the organization of his party； both national and State。
When President Roosevelt had selected Mr。 Taft as his successor he made no indication as to the vice…presidency。 Of course； the nomination of Mr。 Taft under such conditions was a foregone conclusion； and when the convention met it was practically unanimous for Roosevelt's choice。 Who was the best man to nominate for vice…president in order to strengthen the ticket embarassed the managers of the Taft campaign。 The Republican congressmen who were at the convention were practically unanimous for Sherman； and their leader was Uncle Joe Cannon。 We from New York found the Taft managers discussing candidates from every doubtful State。 We finally convinced them that New York was the most important； but they had gone so far with State candidates that it became a serious question how to get rid of them without offending their States。
The method adopted by one of the leading managers was both adroit and hazardous。 He would call up a candidate on the telephone and say to him： 〃The friends of Mr。 Taft are very favorable to you for vice…president。 Will you accept the nomination？〃 The candidate would hesitate and begin to explain his ambitions； his career and its possibilities； and the matter which he would have to consider。 Before the prospective candidate had finished； the manager would say； 〃Very sorry； deeply regret；〃 and put up the telephone。
When the nomination was made these gentlemen who might have succeeded would come around to the manager and say impatiently and indignantly： 〃I was all right。 Why did you cut me off？〃 However； those gentlemen have had their compensation。 Whenever you meet one of them he will say to you： 〃I was offered the vice…presidency with Taft but was so situated that I could not accept。〃
One evening during the convention a wind and rain storm drove everybody indoors。 The great lobby of Congress Hall was crowded； and most of them were delegates。 Suddenly there was a loud call for a speech； and some husky and athletic citizen seized and lifted me on to a chair。 After a story and a joke； which put the crowd into a receptive mood； I made what was practically a nominating speech for Sherman。 The response was intense and unanimous。 When I came down from a high flight as to the ability and popularity to the human qualities of 〃Sunny Jim；〃 I found 〃Sunny Jim〃 such a taking characterization； and it was echoed and re…echoed。 I do not claim that speech nominated Sherman； only that nearly everybody who was present became a most vociferous advocate for Sherman for vice…president。
The position of vice…president is one of the most difficult in our government。 Unless the president requests his advice or assistance； he has no public function except presiding over the Senate。 No president ever called the vice…president into his councils。 McKinley came nearest to it during his administration； with Hobart； but did not keep it up。
President Harding has made a precedent for the future by inviting Vice…President Coolidge to attend all Cabinet meetings。 The vice…president has accepted and meets regularly with the Cabinet。
Sherman had one advantage over other vice…presidents in having been for nearly a quarter of a century a leader in Congress。 F
