I am looking out of the window at the funeral procession for the Maine dead, and it strikes me that our dear friend Cobb has overlooked one trick in his campaign against T. R. Of course he has other arrows in his quiver, and no doubt this one will come later, but why not charge T. R. with having blown up the Maine?  No one can prove that he did not do it.  He then undoubtedly was planning to become President and knew that he never could be unless he was given a chance to show his ability as a soldier-patriot.  He stole Panama of course, and is there any reason to believe that a man who would steal Panama would hesitate at blowing up a battleship?

I hope you ... are giving over the life of a hermit—­not that I would advise you to take to the Great White Way, but the side streets are sometimes pleasant.  As always, devotedly yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

V

EXPRESS CASE—­CABINET APPOINTMENTS

1912-1913

Politics—­Democratic Convention—­Nomination of Wilson —­Report on Express Case—­Democratic Victory—­Problems for New Administration —­On Cabinet Appointments

TO ALBERT SHAW REVIEW OF REVIEWS

Washington, April 30, 1912

My dear doctor,—­ ...  You certainly are very much in the right.  Everything begins to look as if the Republican party would prove itself the Democratic party after all.  Our Southern friends are so obstinate and so traditional, and so insensible to the problems of the day, that while they are honest they are too often found in alliance with the Hearsts and Calhouns.  The Republican party, on the other hand, seems to have courage enough to take a purgative every now and then.

We must find ways of satisfying the plain man’s notion of what the fair thing is, or else worse things than the recall of judges will come to pass.  Every lawyer knows that the law has been turned into a game of bridge whist.  People are perfectly well satisfied that they can submit a question to a body of fair-minded and honest men, take their conclusion, and get rid of all our absurd rules of evidence and our unending appeals.

And as to economic problems, people are going to solve a lot of these along very simple lines.  I think I see a great body of opinion rising in favor of the appropriation by the Government of all natural resources.

We saw a lot of the Severances while they were here.  Cordy made a great argument in the Merger Case, but if he wins, we won’t get anything more than a paper victory—­another Northern Securities victory.

Please remember me very kindly to Mrs. Shaw, and believe me, as always sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

TO CURT G. PFEIFFER

Washington, May 21, 1912