The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-18
CLOSE STUDY
OF ROOSEVELT
PICTURED AND ANALYZED BY
A wEsTERNER.
William Marion Reedy, Editor Of
the Mirror, of st. Louis, Who Re-
Gently Passed Three Days in the
White House as Guest Of the
President Takes the Public to
Some Extent Into His Confidence.

From tho Mirror
I'm the short space Of three days one
may gather a multitude of Impressions
In the national capital. The dominant
impression is Roosevelt. The city is
intent upon him. 1t is II conservative
city. and 1t is not quite sure that 1t
approves the president. Certainly 1t
doesn't understand him. Why? Well
chiefly because the president is so very
much of a human being. His high Of
flee does not disguise him in the least.
There Is no priggishness. no pompos-
ity, no smugness associated with the
personality of Theodore Roosevelt The
people who met him are at first amazed
at his frankness. He says what he
thinks. apparently before anybody. Vet
he doesn't say anything that he should
not say. POmDous persons tell YOU
they thought him patronizing. but
his manner stops short of that His
method of discussing affairs seemingly
is brusque. but it is not in the least Of
fcnsive. He doesn't like to be talked
to like a public meeting, hates the set
speech greeting of the visitor. He gets
down to business instanter and he
others have said enough
in a social way. cOnversalionally, the
president is a miracle. and ! have
heard some of the best conversational
takers in the world. He makes con-
versation better than any man in the
country but ii never seems made.
What he says has body to it, his per-
Thence has the charm of being some
thing especially interesting to the one
addressed Nothing. apparently, is nm
interesting to the president. unless it
he long-winded. He goes at substan-
tialties and he spots sham at sight
You will hear it said that he is nerv
Gus. but that is not what he is. He is
undignifed. The charge is unfounded.
Tie has no tlubdub dignity hut he is
the president Of the United States and
his manner shows it without obtruded
sclf-cOnsciousness. He rushes b,isl-
ness. and people who go to him with
their little affairs are sometimes
srieved that the president won't halt |
the affairs of the nation to listen to
their tale of woe: but he is not ut all
lacking in delicacy even in his brusque |
manner.
He doesn't soft soap the politicians. |
He doesn't take them at their own cs-
innate. Therefore they grumble. But |
lot Il writer. Il fighter Il man of deeds, Il |
person of worth. according to ideas be- |
yond those of the politicians, go to see |
the president and he listens to him. |
The president is no bigot against prac- |
tical politicians. but he does not whol- |
ly believe their claims to represent the |
people He knows their tendency 10 |
think that they and their cliques are |
the people. He sizes the politicians up |
for what they are really worth. The |
cntree to the white house these days
is not exclusively for the bullion sena-
tor. the national committeeman. the
millionaire. There is no kitchen cabi-
net. The affairs of the white house,
officially. so far as consists with pub
lie policy, are conducted openly and |
'bove board. The list of visitors or
guests of the president is not finan-
rially impressive. but it is made up of
men who come from the people with
something to say about other matters
than themselves.