has handled himself well during the campaign ...  What he does will very largely depend, I think, upon those who surround him.  He must have access to sources of information outside of the formal administrative officers who make up his Cabinet.  This is a very delicate way of saying that he must have a sort of “kitchen cabinet” made up of men like you and myself who will be willing to talk frankly to him, and whom he will listen to with confidence and respect.  If he can get the Southerners into line with the Northern Democrats he can make over the Democratic Party and give it a long lease of life.  If he cannot do this, and his party splits, Roosevelt’s party will come into possession of the country in four years, and hold it for a long time ...

I am glad to see that you have been able to take so personal and direct an interest in the campaign.  Faithfully yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

Following the news of the Democratic victory, in the election of Woodrow Wilson to the Presidency, Lane sent these letters:—­

To Woodrow Wilson Trenton, N. J.

Washington, November 6, 1912

My dear Governor,—­The door of opportunity has opened to the Progressive Democracy.  I know that you will enter courageously.  The struggle of the next four years will be to persuade our timid brethren to follow your leadership, “gentlemen unafraid.”  I am persuaded from my experience here that no President can be a success unless he takes the position of a real party leader—­the premier in Parliament as well as a chief executive.  The theoretical idea of the President’s aloofness from Congress—­of a President dealing with the National Legislature as if he were an independent government dealing with another—­is wrong, because it has been demonstrated to be ineffective and ruinous.  We need definiteness of program and cooperation between both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.  There is generally one end of the Avenue that does not know its own mind, and sometimes it is one, and sometimes the other.

Your friends have been made happy through the campaign by the manner in which you have conducted yourself.  You spoiled so many bad prophecies.

With heartiest of personal congratulations, believe me, faithfully yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE

To William Jennings Bryan Washington, November 6, 1912

My dear Mr. Bryan,—­The unprecedented heroism of your fight at Baltimore has borne fruit, and every man who has fought with you for the last sixteen years rejoices that this victory is yours.  Now comes the time when it is to be proved whether we are worthy of confidence.  We shall see whether Democrats will follow a wise, aggressive, modern leadership.  Faithfully yours,

FRANKLIN K. LANE