TWO LETTERS FROM EX-PRESIDENT 

 ROOSEVELT 



The White House 

 Washington 



Oyster Bay, N. Y., July 16, 1906. 

 My dear Mr. Lacey : Certain gentlemen interested in 

 the preservation of the forests of this country, and also 

 interested, though to a less degree, in the preservation of 

 the wild life of the country, and the objects of natural 

 and historic interest which should be kept unharmed for 

 the sake of those who come after us, have written to me 

 expressing their deep sense of obligation to you for all 

 that you have done in Congress to further these matters. 

 They have spoken to me of presenting some memorial to 

 you so that their sense of appreciation may be put in 

 permanent form. I do not know whether this will be 

 done, but I sympathize so cordially with their feelings 

 that I desire to take advantage of this occasion to write 

 you and say how much it means to any man who believes 

 in hard, intelligent, and disinterested public service to 

 see such a career as yours has been in Congress. It has 

 been my privilege to be closely associated with you and to 

 watch the many different ways in which, without any hope 

 or expectation of personal reward, you have rendered 

 efficient public service. I give utterance to the feelings 

 of very many men when I express to you my cordial 

 thanks and extend to you my earnest good wishes. 

 Sincerely yours, 



(Signed) Theodore Roosevelt. 

 Hon. John F. Lacey, M. C. 

 Oskaloosa, Iowa. 



