The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-16
Mr.. ROOSEYELTS
STUHPING TOUR.

SIUHPING IOCR.
Indianapolis. Ind. Oct BIT am good
csndidate-when l think Of Il"
Thus spoke Roosevelt. Rough Rider and
Vice Presidential candidate. as he hustled
back into the observation room Of his pri-
vate car. after he had waved bis hat 10 a
score OF people on a railroad platform.
now half a nile away. He had been busy
chatting with a friend when somebody,
noticing the crowd waving hats at him as
the train sped swiftly by. suggested that
he should return the compliment Out
upon the platform rushed Roosevelt ges-
tieulaIed wildly with his arms. and then.
with a smile which showed all his teeth.
he made the remark just quoted.
Roosevelt as a campaigneT is an inter-
esting study He is unique. He has not
the first element Of a politician about
him. bur says what he thinks. does what
he pleases. and forgets half of the time
that he is a candidate. Several times,
when / entered his car. l found him in a
big chair in a corner, deep in a new book,
oblivioGs TO see merry ard knots of people
at the stations. and utterly unconscious OF
the more CT less important conferences OF
the politicians around him But like il, !"
he said, in hearty fashion; Il like it, l
have been through more funny expert
ences on this trip, ! have heard more
stories. I have had more whirl and ex-
element than l ever had before. And
I'm fiji for fight, too" he added. proud
ly. I'm fit for a fight"
II was true. Certainly there was not in
the clear eyes. the sunburned cheek. the
stalwaTt form any trace OF WEAKNESS.
There was no haggard. worn look under
the eyes There was no lack of spring.
ness in his movements. He really looked
fit for fight
And how 60 you keep up?''
Il ride horseback every chance get It
is my only salvation. In ST. Louis last
Sunday one of the men in my cid regi-
ment brought me a fine saddle horse, and
together we went of for a two hours
hard ride. As long as / can get on a
horse occasionally, l am all right"
The work which Roosevelt has done
since he began campaigning would Kill
an ordinary man. 1t would tell upon him
il he did not have a constitution like an
OK. As it is. he suffers himself to be
hustled out into crowd, who're he has 10
fight his way to a carriage; then he
hustles out Of the carriage, and climbs
upon a stand. makes a speech of ten,
fifteen, or twenty minutes. and then fights
his way back to his car; when. putting
and blowing, he is grabbed by another
waiting crowd and must. perforce have
his hands squeezed and his arms pulled
until the train starts. A brief rest and
the same performance is repeated. 1t is
a new crowd each time, fresh and enthusi-
astic, clamOrous and not to be ignored
Down into the whirlpool of humanity
Roosevelt descends, 10 be buffeted and
bruised and TO escape as best he can
How he energies at night fresh and smil-
ing from the twentieth experience of this
kind is a mystery to me. One day would
be bad enough but there have been nearly
forty days of It altogether. and the end is
not yet
One thing helps Roosevelt TO recuperate.
He sleeps like top-a healthy, sound,
dreamless sleep that refreshes and in
vigorates. He can go TO sleep as soon as
MS head touches the pillow, NJ matter
how wild the whirl of the day. He avoids
all stimulants. and is very careful in his
eating. He knew how to take care of
himself when he roughed il on the plains,
and he is putting his experience to good
use now.
Another saving grace in Roosevelt is
his sense of humor. He can recognize fun
when ii IS afar off, as the father in The
Bible recognized the returning prUd,sal.
I'D like TO write a book about this trip"
said Roosevelt. and / really think he
would, for as he spoke he laughed heart
lily over some of the experiences he had
enjoyed. Even when things go wrong
as they will do even on the best regu-
lated campaign ins-Roosevelt is sure
10 find something Iudicrous IN the situa-
ton, and his hearty laugh dispels all
gloom.
Though his speech be sometimes too
blunt to be tactful, Roosevelt possesses
one great advantage. He Is a good mix
err He is not all things TO all men. but
when he likes a man he likes nim clear
through. and he is sure to Ike him If
there is anything of manliness in him.
Roosevelt has lived too much an the West
TO be snob. He detesrs aff.ctation and
dudishness. 1t is not what a man wears.
but what a man is which interests and at
tracts Roosevelt. II ne met cOw-punch-
er by whose side he had galloped over the
plains under hot sun, and With when
he had camped al night beneath The stars.
that man would get the heartiest greet
ing and the first handshdke in a crowd,
while others waited. Ihere is breezi-
ness and whole-heartedn=ss about his
manner, too, which captures voses. The
newspaper correspondents on his train
adore him. They find MIN accessible al
all times, and when they hear new stery
they are sure 10 find in him an apprecia-
tive audience. All day long they thirk of
things TO tell ''the governor" vino, By the
way, loves their company, Ini 0Ins them
IN their car whenever lie has few mo-
ments 10 spare.
IL was at symposium of Roosevelt
and his newspaper trienqs tina. one Cf the
latter tod him of new song y. comic
opera. Everybody IN Washington will re-
member IL. Jefr De Angels sang I in
a Royal Rogue" II describes the best
way 10 Kill man; whether 10 be exclu-
ssve and cut him on the street, or tell
him funny stories and tickle him to death,
or talk about him at the club and roast
him to a turn. And ne last verse, gov
ernor," said the story-teller, ''en6s, or
shall l elect him Vice President ana bury
MN alive
And when Roosevelt heard this he
.y..ir.fu