The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-08
Theodore Roosevelt
PRACTICAL Refornler.
Albany Letter in Post Express.


u istration has passed the period of
n infancy and 1t is now possible to
NOI make at least a partial esti-
mate Of the man and his
work. 1t must be confessed that
when Theodore Roosevelt assumed Of
flee on January / last the outlook was
not favorable for a successful admins
tration. The leaders of the Republican
state machine secretly hoped he would
be defeated at the polls. Foiled in that
they laid plans to discredit him. They
figured that, independent as he is, he
would take the bit between his teeth and
set out to defy the machine. In that
event, it was planned to have the ma
chine legislature put him in a hole" If
on the other hand, the governor showed
disposition to cater TO the machine it
was decided to take the fullest advan-
tage of such yielding and load him down
with the very worst of partisan en-
ployes and to indirectly discredit his ad-
mnistration by partisan legislation Of
the rankest sort.
Now that the legislature has adjourned
and the work of the last four months is
dispassionatcly reviewed it can be very
plainly stated that Theodore Roosevelt
has completely foiled the plotters He
has been independent; he has instituted
many reforms; he has appointed ma
chine men to office, it is true, but he has
appointed men of the highest standing
and character, men whom the machine
would never have thought of recon-
mending had a machine governor been
in the executive chamber. In doing all
this the governor has acted with such
rare discretion, tact and diplomacy that
he cannot be accused OF bad faith or
double dealing with the machine. New
ertheless, because of it's shortsghtedness
and failure to gauge popular sentiment,
the governor has practically demoralzed
the aforesaid machine. while the people
stand with the executive and trust him
as an honest man. In short Governor
Roosevelt has developed into what his
warmest admirers never eXpecte1-a
practical politician of high order and
high character, paradoXical as that may
seem. 1t will doubtless be of interest to
the general public to learn something OF
! how this has been done.
The first day Governor Roosevelt took
| office he began to systematic the bust
| ness in the executive chamber which had
| hitherto been conducted on a hap-hazard-
| as-you-please style. Today every
| thing goes as by cloCkwork. The gov
ernor is at his Office early in the morn
| ing. Two or three hours are devoted to
| disposing of correspondence and they are
| not idle hours. The governor is rapid
| thinker and a lightning dictator. He
| keeps two stenogra piers busy. From 10
| to II o'clock all winter was set aside for
| seeing the senators and assemblymen.
| Not in years has there been more free
| dom of intercourse between executive and
| individual legislators than this year.
| While their views might not always jibe,
| still full and free discussion was always
| had. In this connection another innova-
| tiOn should be noted. In the past no rule
| was observed for receiving visitors in
| the executive chamber and favored poll
| ticians or others often kept those who
| had business to transact waiting. Since
| Governor Roosevelt took office an ap-
| pointment book is kept and If any one,
| no matter what his station, wishes to see
| the governor he must make his appoint
| ment with the military secretary who
| assigns him TO a certain hour and min
| ute, giving him n card to designate the
! time and the length Of his stay with the
| executive. AS each visitors time is up
! he is bowed out and the next gentle
| mems card is sent in, The arrangement
! has been CALLING to the politicians, but IL
| has pleased the general public because
| no one has had an advantage, all are
treated alike and it has been possible for
even the humblest to see and talk with
the governor.
From II until 1l.15 a. m. was given up
| to seeing the legislative correspondents
in a body. This was a distinct innova-
tion at Albany and one that disguised
| the politicians: still it was one of the
shrewdest moves that Theodore Roose-
welt ever made. In the past the fifty or
! sixty representatives of the state press
| at the capital were forced to await the
| pleasure and caprices of the governor.
| 1t was on but rare occasions that they
saw the executive and generally had to
rely upon the private secretary for their
news. Since January l all the CORE
| spOndents have been welcome at the ex-
! ecutiVe chamber at II a. m, and 445 p
| every day. The doors were closed to all
| other visitors, no matter who waited
The newspaper men usually drew up in
a semi-circle with the governor in the
| center. lie relaxed official dignity and
| told the scrlbCs all that had happened
during the hours since their last meet
Ing. This "news" included what poll
| ticans he had seen, what they wanted
what they suggested, what he himself
had agreed to, etc. There were few II
| any reservations. The only restrictions
imposed We're that the governor should
not be directly quoted in what was
written up" and that when he imposed
secrecy nothing whatever should bc
printed. 1t is to the credit of the legis
lative correspondents corps that not one
OF them ever broke the confidence thus
Teposed. Had 1t been otherwise the Of
| fender would have been sent TO Coventry
/ by his indignant associates.
|
| When the governor had finished detail
ing his budget Of news he usually turned
the tables aud interviewed the CORE
| spondents, II was his crstom TO ash
about the prospects Of legislation on par
ticular subjects, the good faith of the
leaders on certain matters, the genera
| Impression concerning this or that ind
| v!dual or bill, etc. Each correspondent