The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24
GLOBE WASHINGTON BUREAU,
Post Building, Room 40.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 23.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt,s manner of receiving
visitors and doing business with thenl is
like other things he does, and is best
characterized by ~oyerworked ad-
jective 'strenuous.n And that word by
the way. is absolutely Indispensable in
any discourse concerning Roosevelt.
When he drew that term from his re-
plete vocabulary heshft .on the keynote
of his personality.ssfT
A strenuous man like Roosevelt cannot
sit still and conform to the solemn pace
of state. He was not built for a pedestal.
Activity of thought and motion is as
natural to him as to a sky-terrier. To
him life is one grand football game, and
he is forever bucking the line.
The business receptions at the White
house are more like gridiron affairs than
anything else. The president has the
ball. and when he isn't straining after
six yards he is running around the ends.
The inner room where William McKin-
ley was wont to hold forth, and where
the cabinet gets together three times a
week, has been quite abandoned. The
large outer room next to 1t, which in the
old days was the refrigerator where
ardent politicians were required to cool
their heels, has been turned into the
regular practice ground. The callers are
filtered through the reception han and
are admitted by Arthur Simmons (col-
ored), and Capt. Ioeffler. Their cards
are taken into Secretary Cortelyou and
he gives orders for their admission II
he finds they have legitimate business
With the president Once in the big room
the people stand or sit, and await their
turn. 1t is never very long in coming,
and while waiting they have an excellent
opport11nitu to- haar.; a bOIIt the business
of other callers
The voice of the president is one of his
strenuous adjuncts.. He seems to have
no regard for Che privacy of other pco-
pies affairs. If man is asking for an
office, the entire assemblage soon knows
it. After the first loud greetings are over
the politcian-for it usually is a poll
tician-edges up close and applies his
mouth to the presidents ear. There are
a few inaudible words, and then Roose-
welt cuts in:
Cant do it! Those places in the cen,
sus are all taken!'
The officeseeker edges a little closer
and drops his voice lower. There Is
another brief application to the presi,
dents ear. The rejoinder resoupds
through the room like the last trump.
eyes, / know all about that! 1t doesn' t
make any difference about the organiza-
ton. You know it's good men we want?'
By this time everybody present is fol-
lowing the semi dialogue. The applicant
grows nervous and glances around. But
in desperation he renews the attack in a
whisper.
"Oh, l know all about Jim Jones!' cries
the president ST looked over the papers.
and he won't dor
BY this time the president is edging or.
The politician seizes him by the lapel
of his coat and grows frantically con-
fidential
Cant do it! Can't do it, Can't do it.
Sorry, YOU know, but l can't do iti'
The words come out in quick ex-
plosions. The effect is like a bunch oil
f1recrackers. The politician, if he is old
and hardened, tries to get between the
president and the man on whom he has
set his eye. But Roosevelt is familiar
with the blocking eff game, and ducks
to one SIDE Before the visitor is aware
Roosevelt has grabbed him by the hand.