Arizona republican., 1901-12-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
Something in the Ways of President
 Roosevelt.

like other things he does, and is bes
 characterized by that overworke1 ad jective strenuous" And that word
 by the way, is absolutely indispensabl,
 in any discourse concerning Roosevelt
 When he drew that term from his re plete cabulary he hit upon the key
 note of his personality
 A strenuous man like Roosevelt car
 not sit still and conform to the solemr
 pace of state. He was not built for 8
 pedestal. Activity of thought and mo-
 ton is as natural to him as to a sky i terrier. To him life~is one grand foot | ball game, and he is forever bucking
 the line.
 ] The business receptions al the White house are more like gridiron affairs than anything else. The president has the ball. and when he is not straining after six yards he is running around the ends.
 The inner room where William Me
 Kinley was wont to hold forth. and where the cabinet gets together three times week. has been quite aban- doned. The large outer room next to
 it. which in the old days was the re- frigerator where ardent politicians
 were required to cool their heels, has
 been turned into the regular practice ground. The callers are filtered through the reception hall and are ad- mitted by Arthur Simmons (coIoredD and Captain Loeffler. Their cards are taken in to Secretary Cortelyou. and he gives orders for their admission if he finds they have legitimate business with the president. Once in the big room the people stand or sit, and await their turn. It is never very long in coming. and while waiting they have an excellent opportunity to hear about the business of other callers
 The voice of the president is one of his strenuous adjuncts. He seems to have no regard for the privacy of other peoples affairs. If a man is asking for. an office the entire assen1blage soon knows it. After the first loud greet inSs are over the politicians-for it usually is poiitician-edges up close and applies his mouth to the presidents ear There are a few inaudible words. and then Roosevelt cuts in:
 Cant do it. Those places in the census are all takent".
 The office seeker edges a little closer and drops his voice lower. There Is another brief application to the presi- dents ear. Tie reioinder rcsoun .l.; through tic rocnI like the last trump: . Yes l know all about that it doesT't make ary difference about the ofear izaticn- YoU know it's good n'en We want"
 By this time everybody present is following tho semi-dialogue. The ao- plieant grows nervous and glances around. But in desperation he renews the attack in whisper.
 "Oh, I knov. all about Jim Jonest'' cries the president. "I looked over the papers. and he won't dol"
 By this time the president is edging off. The politician seizes him by the lapel of his coat and grows franticaIIy confidential.
 Cant do it, Cant do it, Cant do it' Sorry. you know. but I can't do it,'
 The words come out in quick explo- sions-- The effect is like 2 bunch of hrecrackers. 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 off'' game and ducks to one side. Before the visitor is aware Roosevelt has grabbed him by the hand
 "Good-by. Good-by, Come again."
 And it is all off with that caller
 The president makes a dash at the next man. It may be an old acquain- tance. He is good at remembering. and as he seizes him by the hand. nearly yanking him off his feet in the operation, he presses his goggles closer, and explodes:
 ''I know you, I know you, Remem- ber you quite well, Saw you in Colo rado! How have you been? Where's your brother now? Awful glad, What ,an I do? Come again, Come often, Come any tine,"
 In two shakes of a lambs tail he has wrung the hand off of this one and is Ul int
 While disposing of his visitors Roose- l velt is all over the place. He is never still minute. He delights to get his Feet upon chairs: he puts his hands on visitors shoulders; he strides up and town and does more talking than all he callers put together. He has an explosive manner of speech, to which | no description can do justice. He does show his teeth. When he laughs his eyes go shut and he shakes all over. | He "chortles" in his glee Occasion l llly-it must be said-he almost sput- | CTS. When excited, which is pretty | often. he goes off into the treble key | md when considerably excited he ! 'airiy shrieks.
 There are no long speeches to Rcose- ! 'elt. There are no long anythings. He i & impatient of words. He likes ac- ! ion. His time is too valuable for | 'onorous periods. Many is the delega- 1 ion which has filed in with it's duly | spokesman. and his duly | committed speech. that has been 1 tipped in the bud. and given a right 1 bout face so sudden that it had no | coherent account to give of itself when 1 t arrived at the outer world and the ! waiting of newspaper men.
 What did he say? What did you ay to him? Did he promise to incor- ,orate your ideas in his message to cnSress 9"
 The poor spokesman does not know. f was so sudden. He knows that his lead is going round. and he has a 'ague recollection of thick-lensed gos- ,les. a flash of worries, a whirr of Ian- -uase. and a catapult adieu. He knows hat the door is closed behind him and hat the mission of the delega tion