The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-23
ROOSEVELT HAS BRAINS.
NEW Works. NEW POLICE CONIMIs-
SIONER Is A MAN OF ENERGY.

Experiences.
New York. June 22.-It was IN the au-
tumn Of ISL. just a little more than year
| after his graduation from college. that
the world began to talk of Theodore
Roosevelt. and during the thirteen years
and some months that have rolled by the
public tongue has wagged about him
pretty steadily. lie was but % when he be
gan his political career by winning repre-
sentation from a city district in the lower
house Of the New York legislature as a
republican. and his performance of an as
semblymans duties was characterized by
vigor, dash and disregard for prece-
dent that fairly took away the breath
alike Of friend and foe. To both his course
in certain matters seemed little short Of
indiscretion. and while TO both it seemed
likely that when the warm blood of the
youth should be a bit cooled he would
settle down to what they considered more
rational conduct, his friends feared and
his foes hoped that political disaster would
befan him long before that time arrived.
In a way, both friends and foes have
been disappointed. Theodore Rooseyelt's
public life has not yet been brought to a
close. On the contrary. it seems possible
that it has really but just begun. But
his vigor. his dash and his disregard of
presidents are all as pronounced as ever,
and as president Of the board Of police
commissioners of the city OF New York,
he has already done a number Of things
] i grR - q
typical politician. And, as he has been in
the office but a few weeks as yet, Il seems
highly probable that his exploits to date
have been mere preliminaries to later per
formances of a far more startling nature.
called upon Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday
at his Office in the white building on Null
berry street, where once the name Of
Byrnes was even more potent than that Of
a commissioner, but where now Roosevelt
is the one to conjure by. When l went
into the outer office the smasher of poliu-
cal precedent and personal Inspector of
patrolmen's beats was out. and was con-
fronted by the first Of the Innovations TO
be introduced by that lively official, in the
person of his plump. black-gowned young
woman secretary. There were several
ahead of me, but none Of the type that
sometimes used to be seen waiting in that
room for the president of the board, and
| only one such came in while waited. lie
was a big-jawed specimen, with shaYen
skull and a voice like the tone Of the long
est pine in a huge organ. When he was
told that the commissioner was out for
the moment, this man growled, in the deep
| est bass, that he was in a hurry and hoped
| he wouldn't have to wait more than
year" The girl smiled but failed TO take
the hint by presenting his card ahead OF
the others.
half past two, sharp" she said, sweetly,
/ land he generally keeps his word. think
he will be here in about three minutes.
Then the man sat down and began to
stare hard at the minute hand OF the OF
flee clock, which was at 2:27.
Just before the long hand swung round
TO 2:Sl the president of the board came In,
or rather shot thr4Ygh 81 tlle1, : ,onter office
ike a dull brown streak inedentally hr-
ling a question at the pretty secretary as
he passed. Then she gathered up the
cards. taking care to arrange them In the
proper order, and followed the official to
his own private office. 1t, therefore, fell
out that although a very wen known ana
wealthy business man, local politician
and a correctly gowned society woman
were among those waiting, besides one or
two who had exhibited letters Of intro
duction to the girl the first to be called
was a colored brother who had no appar-
ent pull, had been obliged to send in
badly written card, and had no advantage
whatever, save that Of first arrival. If
the others were ANNOYED by this evidence
of true democracy In the routine of Mr..
Roosevelts office, all but one of them for
got 1t directly, for the expression upon
the face of the gentleman with the heavy
voice was so comlcal that a, slight trace
the face of the up-to-date society woman.
When l entered the presence j saw &C.
fore me very much the same man in APP
pearance that l had known when he vas
but a year or two past his majority.
and was proud to be an assemhlyman.
About the eyes, in the brow, and at tn
argles of the mouth there are wrinkles
not visible twelve or thirteen years ago,
but the eyes, which look out through big
pebble glasses, are unchanged. the ac~
cent is the same. and so are the white.
even teeth, and, as Of yore, the hani-
shake is quick, nervous and full OF an
energy which almost seems to overflow
at touch. His words and manners give
the same impression now that they do
then, as If he were saying: AXE me
all the question you wish; take all the
time that is necessary, but, for heavens
sake. my dear sir, don't be any long,s
about it than you need. for, don't yoh
see, I'm a very DuSy IApH Win lOtS u
work to do right now"
In the course of our conversation 1
asked him how he liked the Job Of be-
irg a police commissioner, as compareI
with his duties as member Of the national
civil service beard.
Il like the work here immensely" he
replied. In fact, Ike II better than any
thing else 1 have ever had to do with.
For here l am privileged to, help per-
form the actual work of governing. and
l hold it to be the duty Of every man TO
take some part in this work. Every one
can do this, too. for every one can cast
the ballot. ts. str ,-,
why did I go into politics and liter
allure when l was a young man instead
Of into business? Because ! thought !
should like public life, ana because
thought l should like to write. And l
have found that / made no mistake, for
1 have enjoyed life so far very wen, very
well. indeed, sir" t..
Tell me something as to your plans
regarding the ultimate organization Of
the police force of New York DO you
believe that it will ever be possible, with
the laws as they now stand upon the
statute books regarding liquor selling and
the social evil, to maintain a force OF