New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-03
4 BUSY DAY FOR THE COLONEL,
ATTACKING HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH
VIGOR-W. BOURKE COCHRAN
CALLS ON HIM

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt passed busy day
yesterday at his home, near Oyster Bay. Con-
trary to his usual custom, he did not accompany
his family TO church, but remained at home and
attacked his correspondence with the same vigor
that characterizes all his undertakings. Colonel
Roosevelts mail had assumed alarming proper
tions. Thousands Of his enthusiastic fellow
countrymen had written or telegraphed to him
their congratulations and expressions of good
will While he had given up hope Of answering
all these letters he felt that he ought to try 10
answer es many Of them as possible. Knowing
that he would have no time to devote to this
work after he had thrown himself into the can
vsss for his election he decided TO take hold Of
II boldly yesterday. In addition to his private
secretary, he therefore employed two stenogra-
piers and typewriters and they had one Of the
busiest days Of their lives
II was an exhilarating sight 10 see the Colonel
OF the Rough Riders lead the assault on the
heaped-up breastworks Of letters. He did II
with the same invlncble energy that he had
displayed at the head OF his regiment UP the
bullet swept hill OF San Juan. There were let
ters heaped everywhere in the library where the
candidate and his assistant were at work They
covered the table at which he sat- they bulged
from the drawers. they lay in bundles and piles.
but all Of the bundles and heaps and piles
dwindled during the day and went to swell the
contents Of the waste baskets, while in their
places were orderly rows OF newly written re-
plies, which will be sent early this morning to
swell the earnings Of the postmaster ar Oyster
Bay.
Colonel Roosevelt grasps the contents Of
communication with lightning like raptdty. and
dictates with swiftness. but with a clearness of
enunciaton that makes his dictaton easy for
a shorthand writer to take. Occasionally one Of
the men would come in with some additional
telegrams, for they kept coming all day. The
one that pleased the Colonel the most was from
Joseph II. Choate. II follows:
Stockbridge. October 2.
Letter and telegram received VIII speak at
"wednesday evening meeting. Nothing could
keen me away. JOSEPH H. CHOATE.
It was the warmth of the last words that
particularly pleased the recipient. From the
Rev. Dr. George R. Van De Water, chaplain OF
the list Regiment, came this;
Heartiest congratulations from fellow-volun-
teer who fought for you and will vote for you
Not few of the letters and messages were
from independent Democrats offering their sup
port to the Republican candidate The only
rests Colonel Roosevelt took from his labor were
"A
give him a word of good cheer and ask how he
was getting along; when he stopped for meals.
when he gave an audience 10 the reporters in
the morning and afterward went out for brisk
walk of an hour over the hills, on one OF which
his house stands. and finally. when he stepped
down to the door to accept the congratulations
Of ". Bourke Cochran.
Mr. Cochran came all the way from his home
at Sands Point to bring Colonel Roosevelt his
expression OF goodwill. He did not accept the
invitation to go into the house. but after warmly
shaking the colonels hand and congratulating
him introduced two friends who had driven
ever with HIM The visit OF Mr.. Cochran led TO
some speculation as 20 whether the Gold Demo-
cratic ex-Congressman would not go on the
stump again for the Republican ticket this fall.
When the newspaper men visited the candi-
date they found him deeply and happily I'M
pressed at the reception given him by the Sea-
wanhaka Cornthian Yacht Club the night be-
fore. The reports OF the clubs dinner were sent
so late the night before that they did not do
full Justice TO the greeting given the Rough
Rider when he arose TO speak. The yachtsmen
simply went wild They Jumped on chairs and
hovyIed and shouted Our next Governor In
chorus,
olanclng at ths signatures Of some OF the !