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d government。 Judge Andrews needs no endorsement from any man living as to his Republicanism。 From the time he was Mayor of Syracuse through his long and distinguished service on the bench he has been recognized as a Republican and a citizen of the highest type。 I write this because your interview seems to convey the impression； which I am sure you did not mean to convey； that in some way my suggestions are antagonistic to the organization。 I do not understand quite what you mean by the suggestion of my friends； for I do not know who the men are to whom you thus refer； nor why they are singled out for reference as making any suggestions about the Governorship。
In your last interview； I understood that you wished me to be back in the State at the time of the convention。 As I wish to be able to give the nominee hearty and effective support； this necessarily means that I do have a great interest in whom is nominated。
ROOSEVELT TO PLATT
Oyster Bay； August 20； 1900
I have your letter of the 16th。 I wish to see a straight Republican nomination for the governorship。 The men whom I have mentioned； such as ex…Judge Andrews and Secretary Root； are as good Republicans as can be found in the State； and I confess I haven't the slightest idea what you mean when you say； 〃if we are to lower the standard and nominate such men as you suggest； we might as well die first as last。〃 To nominate such。 a man as either of these is to raise the standard； to speak of it as lowering the standard is an utter misuse of words。
You say that we must nominate some Republican who 〃will carry out the wishes of the organization；〃 and add that 〃I have not yet made up my mind who that man is。〃 Of one thing I am certain； that； to have it publicly known that the candidate； whoever he may be； 〃will carry out the wishes of the organization；〃 would insure his defeat； for such a statement implies that he would merely register the decrees of a small body of men inside the Republican Party； instead of trying to work for the success of the party as a whole and of good citizenship generally。 It is not the business of a Governor to 〃carry out the wishes of the organization〃 unless these wishes coincide with the good of the Party and of the State。 If they do； then he ought to have them put into effect； if they do not； then as a matter of course he ought to disregard them。 To pursue any other course would be to show servility； and a servile man is always an undesirablenot to say a contemptiblepublic servant。 A Governor should； of course； try in good faith to work with the organization； but under no circumstances should he be servile to it； or 〃carry out its wishes〃 unless his own best judgment is that they ought to be carried out。 I am a good organization man myself； as I understand the word 〃organization；〃 but it is in the highest degree foolish to make a fetish of the word 〃organization〃 and to treat any man or any small group of men as embodying the organization。 The organization should strive to give effective； intelligent； and honest leadership to and representation of the Republican Party； just as the Republican Party strives to give wise and upright government to the State。 When what I have said ceases to be true of either organization or party； it means that the organization or party is not performing its duty； and is losing the reason for its existence。*
* Washburn； 34…38。
Roosevelt's independence as Governor of New York； and the very important reforms which； in spite of the Machine； he had driven through； greatly increased his personal popularity throughout the country。 To citizens； East and West； who knew nothing about the condition of the factories； canals； and insurance institutions in New York State； the name 〃Roosevelt〃 stood for a man as honest as he was energetic； and as fearless as he was true。 Platt and the Machine naturally wished to get rid of this marplot； who could not be manipulated； who held strange and subversive ideas as to the extent to which the Ten Commandments and the Penal Code should be allowed to encroach on politics and Big Business； and who was hopelessly 〃altruistic〃 in caring for the poor and down trodden and outcast。 Even Platt knew that； while it would not be safe for him to try to dominate the popular hero against his own preference and that of the public； still to shelve Roosevelt in the office of Vice…President would bring peace to the sadly disturbed Boss； and would restore jobs to many of his greedy followers。 So he talked up the Vice…Presidency for Roosevelt； and he let the impression circulate that in the autumn there would be a new Governor。
Roosevelt； however； repeated to many persons the views he wrote to Platt in the letter quoted above； and his friends and opponents both understood that he wished to continue as Governor for another two years； to carry on the fight against corruption； and to save himself from being laid away in the Vice Presidencythe receiving…tomb of many ambitious politicians。 In spite of the fact that within thirty…five years； by the assassination of two Presidents； two Vice…Presidents had succeeded to the highest office in the Nation； Vice…Presidents were popularly regarded as being mere phantoms without any real power or influence as long as their term lasted； and cut off from all hopes in the future。 Roosevelt himself had this notion。 But the Presidential conventions； with criminal disregard of the qualifications of a candidate to perform the duties of President if accident thrust them upon him； went on recklessly nominating nonentities for Vice…President。
The following extract from a confidential letter by John Hay； Secretary of State； to Mr。 Henry White； at the American Embassy in London； reveals the attitude towards Roosevelt of the Administration itself。 Allowance must be made； of course； for Hay's well…known habit of persiflage：
HAY TO HENRY WHITE
Teddy has been here： have you heard of it？ It was more fun than a goat。 He came down with a sombre resolution thrown on his strenuous brow to let McKinley and Hanna know once for all that he would not be Vice…President； and found to his stupefaction that nobody in Washington； except Platt； had ever dreamed of such a thing。 He did not even have a chance to launch his nolo episcopari at the Major。 That statesman said he did not want him on the ticketthat he would be far more valuable in New York and Root said； with his frank and murderous smile； 〃Of course notyou're not fit for it。〃 And so he went back quite eased in his mind； but considerably bruised in his amour propre。
In February； Roosevelt issued a public notice that he would not consent to run for the Vice…Presidency； and throughout the spring； until the meeting of the Republican Convention in Philadelphia； on June 21st； he clung to that determination。 Platt； anxious lest Roosevelt should be reelected Governor against the plans of the Machine； quietlyworked up a 〃boom〃 for Roosevelt's nomination as Vice…President； and he connived with Quay to steer the Pennsylvania delegation in the same direction。 The delegates met and renominated McKinley as a matter of course。 Then； with irresistible pressure； they insisted on nominating Roosevelt。 Swept off his feet； and convinced