Topic 33 
MAKING UP WITH TAFT

JACK, I've seen old Taft, and we're in perfect harmony on everything."

Colonel Roosevelt fairly beamed the words — if one may be said to beam a word — in his rooms in the Blackstone Hotel one Sunday in May, 1918.  He had just come in from his first real meeting with Judge Taft since the break in 1912, and he was happy as the proverbial lark.

"We're in perfect harmony on everything," he repeated.  "Now hurry, for we've got to make a train."

I say "real meeting" advisedly, for, while it is true that Mr.  Taft and the Colonel met during the 1916 campaign in the Union League Club, at the request of Mr.  Hughes's managers, the "reconciliation meeting" was anything but cordial or friendly.

"It was," as the Colonel remarked at one time, "one of those friendly affairs, where each side, before entering the meeting place, made sure its hardware was in good working order."

The Union League meeting was arranged solely for the effect it might have on the country; it was as much a staged affair as though Belasco had planned it, though it lacked the Belasco touch.  Because it was so poorly (or so palpably) staged, its only effect on the public was to provoke a rather large grin.

The Chicago meeting, on the other hand, was as satisfying as it was unexpected; there were hearts in the hand clasps.  For this reason, the effect on the country, and more particularly the Republican part of the country, was all the Union League meeting was not.

Colonel Roosevelt's serious illness in the early part of 1918 opened the door to the real reconciliation.  Mr.  Taft took advantage of the Colonel's recovery to write him a warm hearted letter of congratulation — a typical Taft letter.  On his part the Colonel reciprocated in kind, saying, among other things, in his note to Mr.  Taft, that his was the first letter he was answering.  This paved the way to other letters, and when, soon after, the Colonel delivered his "keynote" speech to the Maine Republican Convention, the manuscript was submitted to Mr.  Taft for his opinion.  Mr.  Taft suggested a few changes in its wording, changes the Colonel gladly made.

From this point mutual friends helped the situation along by repeating to Colonel Roosevelt kindly things Mr.  Taft had said about the Colonel.  The Colonel was particularly appreciative of a story told by Governor W.  L.  Harding of Iowa.

The Governor, it appeared, had been a guest at dinner with Mr.  Taft, where, over the coffee, all hands turned to discussing the conduct of affairs in Washington.

"When I see the way things are going in Washington, it makes my blood fairly boil," Mr.  Taft was quoted as saying, " but when I think how much madder they must make T.  R., I feel a whole lot better."
"From the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for Roosevelt," he went on after the laugh had subsided.  " Here he is, the one man in the country best capable of handling the situation, denied any part in it, and compelled to sit in the bleachers and see the ball booted all over the lot."

Some one — I know not who, — repeated this story to the Colonel, and in telling of it, the Colonel added that "Taft was not much better off."

"Taft," said he, "could do real work in Washington — he could do great work abroad.  Tr ink what he could do in Baker's place; what a splendid thing it would be to have him in Paris or London or Rome! Just think of the appeal that would make to the imagination of the people of Europe!"

On the morning of the Hotel Blackstone meeting, Colonel Roosevelt arrived in Chicago en route for Des Moines.  He planned a quiet day — a meeting with Richard Lloyd Jones, of Madison, Wisconsin, and a private talk to an editorial association in the afternoon, a late dinner, and an early train.  After the talk to the editors, he advised me to "take the evening off."

"There won't be a thing doing," said he.  "I'm going to get into some dry clothing" (he was perspiring very freely), "have a.  late dinner, and get ready for the ten-o'clock train.  You had better take the evening off, but be back by nine-fifteen sure."

My idea of taking the evening off was to stick about the hotel lobby, for travelling with the Colonel, as all newspaper men who have toured with him will testify, was serious business.  One never knew what might turn up, and in the months immediately before and after our entry into the war, there was always the chance that some German fanatic might seek to aid the Fatherland by destroying him.  The Colonel gave this danger small thought, but it was present nevertheless.

Therefore I had my dinner, filed a brief despatch for New York, and was chatting with the Western Union operator in the hotel, when, suddenly, came the sound of cheers from the dining room.  They were not the customary well bred cheers one looks for at any time in a hotel like the Blackstone — rather were they the kind one hears in a mass meeting in the midst of an exciting campaign.

Both telegraph operators and the telephone girl paused in their work— cheers in the Blackstone on a Sunday night are so unusual.  I made for the dining room.

In the Blackstone the dining room is some nine or ten steps above the level of the office floor.  These steps were crowded by men and women who a moment before were seated in the lobby — all very much excited about something.

"What's up?" I asked a man on the lower step.

"Nothing; only T.  R.  and Taft's got together," he replied.  "They're in there holding an old home week."

"Old home week" seemed to describe it perfectly.  At the far side of the dining room at a small table by a window sat the two ex-Presidents.  Mr.  Taft was beaming, and Colonel Roosevelt, leaning half across the table, was expressing himself very earnestly.  It was for all the world like two old soldiers met, after many years, at a G.A.R.  reunion.

I left the crowded stairs to bulletin New York, "Roosevelt and Taft dining together" —for it so appeared from the stairs, and returned to await the end of the meal.  On my way I met Mr.  Taft.

"Judge," I asked, "won't you tell me about your meeting with Colonel Roosevelt? Was it by appointment?"

"Lord, no!" said he.  " I came here from St.  Louis on War Labor Board business — we have a session here tomorrow — I was halfway to my room when I heard he was in the dining room and going to leave in a few minutes, so I just dropped in on him to pay my respects.  Is n't he looking splendid? I never saw him looking much better."

"Did you talk politics?"

"Son," laughed Mr.  Taft, "you really do not expect me to answer that question, do you?"
"Well, I am safe in assuming you did."

"Now don't you assume anything," he commanded.  "You just quote Mr.  Taft as saying Colonel Roosevelt and he discussed patriotism and the state and welfare of the Nation.  That will cover everything."

I left Mr.  Taft to go to the Colonel's suite, arriving just as he came bouncing in.

"Jack," he exclaimed, "did you know I've just met old Taft?"

"I have just left him," I replied.  "How did it happen?"

" I was never so surprised in my life," he answered.  "I thought I heard some one call 'Theodore' and I looked up just as he reached the table with his hand stuck out.  There was so much noise being made by the people in the room I am not quite sure what he said.  I think it was, 'Theodore, I am glad to see you."

" I grabbed his hand and told him how glad I was to see him.  By Godfrey, I never was so surprised in my life.  He was farthest from my thoughts.  I no more thought of him being in Chicago than in Timbuctoo.  But was n't it a gracious thing for him to do? Now, I don't know what to tell you.  What did he say?"

I repeated what Mr.  Taft had given me for publication.

"Taft is right," he said.  "That covers it.  Let it stand at that.  But I am mighty glad to tell you that he agrees with me on everything.  He feels exactly as I do about those people in Washington and the way they are carrying on."

A few minutes later, still beaming, the Colonel came downstairs to take a cab for the train.

"Jack," said he, "I don't mind telling you how delighted I am.  I never felt happier over anything in my life.  It was splendid of Taft."

"It is a big night's work," I said, "and notice to the world that the party is really and truly united.  It will be so taken in Washington."

" I believe you are right." And then, with a laugh, "It is too bad to spoil Mr.  Wilson's breakfast!

"But the important thing, Jack, is something more than our meeting.  Did I tell you that he is in perfect harmony with me — that we agree perfectly on the way things are going in Washington? That is important.  What did you wire New York?"

"Just a brief despatch, emphasizing the warmth of your meeting.  I had no time for more.  I think it well to let the fact sink in and follow the story with one bringing out the significance of the meeting.  I am also wiring John King a personal message."

"Good; John should know, by all means.  You will know what to tell him."

No more was said on the way to the station — the Colonel was busy with his thoughts and — humming his favorite battle air, "Garry Owen."