FRANKLIN K. LANE

To Edward E. Leake

Treasury Department

San Francisco, California

Washington, May 26, 1914.

My dear Ed,—­I have yours of the 21st.  I know that you are sincere, old man, when you tempt me with the governorship, and you write in such a winning manner that my blood quickens, but really it is quite out of the question.  I want to see California lined up strongly on the Democratic side.  I also want to see Phelan come to the Senate and I am ready to do all that I can to help out the old State, but my work is cut out for me here and until I have put over some of the things that I believe will benefit the West as a whole, I do not believe I should relinquish the reins of this particular portfolio.  It is an honor to me, a big one, to be considered by my friends for the governorship and I know that they would stand gallantly behind me, and when I send this negative answer, you must believe me when I say that I send it with considerable regret.

I shall be very glad to see you at this end, when you are here, and you need no excuse to camp on my doorstep.

Cordially yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To William R. Wheeler

Washington, June 6, 1914

My dear bill,—­I am extremely sorry to hear of your being robbed.  That comes from being wealthy.  Poor Lady Alice Isabel!  How outraged and disconsolate she must be!  If that diamond tiara I gave her is gone tell her I will replace it the first time I visit Tiffany’s.  Of course this only holds good as to the one I gave her. ...  You know, I have often wondered if a burglar should get into our house what he would find worth taking away.  I have some small burglary insurance on my house, but this was so I could turn over and sleep without coming down stairs with a shotgun.  What were you doing, going to Sacramento, anyway?  Any fellow who goes to Sacramento gets into trouble.  That is the home of Diggs, Caminetti, and Hiram Johnson.  I see that Johnson is going to be re-elected Governor, and that the other two are going to jail.  I hope that all three will lead better lives in the future.

Well, old man, if you need a new suit of clothes or anything in the line of underwear, let me know.  I have gotten to the point where I have been wearing what Ned does not take, and I will pass some of them along to you. ...

There is nothing new here.  I fear that I shall not get up to Alaska, as I promised myself, for Congress will be in session for some time, and I am striving desperately to get my conservation bills through.  Moreover, just what phase the Mexican situation will take cannot be foreseen, from day to day.  I was broken-hearted at not being able to get out to California, but just at that particular time—­while I was about to go, tickets and everything purchased—­the President called upon me to do something which held me back.  The toll bills will probably pass next week, by a majority of nine.  Then the trust bills will come up in the Senate and every man will have to make a speech. ...