The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
Everybody Gets n Firm and Hearty
Handshake and n Few Fitting
Words, but Time Is Not Wasted.
SPEECHMAKERS ARE CUT SHORT
AND THE PRESIDENT DOES THE
TALKING THAT Is NECESSARY.
Series of Remarks that Strikingly
illustrates His Broad Learning
and Diversified Tastes,


the White House on Nov. q. Between 10
o'clock in the morning and 1870 o'clock in
the afternoon the President was kept busy
shaking hands with returning members of
Congress and visitors who came to Wash
ington to take Thanksgiving dinner with
friends. Some idea of his dexterity in
handling crowds and of his methods in dis
posing pleasantly of people who throng
around him with a variety of objects in
view can be gained from a recital of few
of the actual occurrences of the day.
The general reception room cannot &C
commodate more than hundred persons
comfortably. Therefore not more than that
number are admitted at time. The Pres
ident's office, where the Cabinet meetings
are held, adjoins this large room on the
west. A short flight of steps leads from
the door between the Office and the recep-
tion room. Up and down the stairway the
President must have bounded twenty times
on that day during the progress of his
cepton. Secretary Cortelyou, calm and i'm
perturbable as a Trappist monk, occupies
desk near the center of the south wall
Of the reception room. To his right sits
Mr.. Barnes stenographer. quite as calm
and imperturbable as his chief. Outside the
door sits the faithful Arthur Simmons,
black and round and quiet-mannered. Be
cause he has held the position of guard
at the door of the Presidents secretary
since the days of Lincoln this public Of
fetal, without whose shining countenance
the upper hallway of the White House
would be dark and gloomy, is addressed
by the experienced White House visitor
as Mr.. Arthur Simmons" Mr. Simmons
knows whom to let in and whom not to
let into the reception room. By means
of a superior psychological gift which
makes him an invaluable public servant
he is able to tell whom the President wants
to see or whom Secretary Cortelyou would
admit to the room if he were guarding the
door himself. Mr.. Simmons also can tell,
without putting himself to the trouble of
counting them as they enter just how
many people have passed through his door.
Hence there is never any danger of the
| hundred limit being exceeded.
To say that every phase of humanity was
represented in the crowds that streamed
into the reception room to-day is stating
the case in conventional but unexagger-
ated terms. And also to say that into
each of these successive crowds President
Roosevelt hurled himself like catapult
is putting the rest of the case mildly.
Through the door from his Office he bounds
unannounced and seizes by the hand the
first person he bumps into.
CORDIAL GREETING TO ALL.
Glad to see you," exclaims the Presi-
cent, as he grasps the hand of the visitor
There is an emphasis put on the you
which startles the caller with its ring of
candor. But scarcely has the visitor re-
covered from his establishment sufficiently
to begin his little speech before the Presi-
dent has darted half way around the circle,
leaving outstretched hands tinglng with
the rush of blood caused by the firm presi-
Dental handclasp and startled ears trying
to realize that into them has been hurled
the assurance, "Glad TO see YOU" When
the President is not glad to see you" then
he is delighted to see you" Always there
is that inevitable emphasis on the you"
Statesman, officeseeker, tufthunter, notori-
ETY. seeker, giggling bride, stately dame,
capitalist laborer, Democrat, Republican,
Populst-all get the same greeting. the
same nervous but firm and jerky hand
shake the same glitter of eye, and then
away darts this bundle Of nerves of steel.
To the visiting delegation who come
with a spokesman, and with the motive
either of suggesting something Of value to
the Nation or to themselves, perhaps the
President displays his methods to best ad-
vantage. From Montana to-day there
came a party of politicians who desired to
impress on the chief executive the neces-
sity and the value OF the Western irriga-
ton scheme.
IN FAVOR OF IRRIGATION.
1--WE would like TO have a word with you
about irrigation, Mr.. President" began the
spokesman who Immediately was cut short
from a further oratorical effort by the
President saying in a tone that was heard
all over the room and out in the hallway:
Eyes, oh. yes. You favor irrigation, do
you? Well, so do 1. L have urged it in
my message. Here, Mr. Cortelyou, get me
a printed copy Of my message so 1 can
read to these gentlemen what 1 am going
to say to Congress on the subject of irri-
CATION" The printed copy was immediate
ly forthcoming, and the President read, so
everybody within earshot could hear, what
he will ask Congress to do on the irriga-
ton question The Westerners rushed out
OF the room, and assuming an air OF mys-
terry when approached by the platoon OF
eager waiting journalists, managed to in
spire telegram TO the papers in their
section Of the country which will mildly
intimate that but for their timely visit
TO Washington the great cause of irrigation
would have been overlooked in the Presi-
dents message.
A tall man, moving about with dignlied
stride in a cloud of mystery, caught the
Presidents eye the Montana delegation
backed away. What the man Of dignity
and mystery said could not be heard, but
what the President said could be. Eyes,
yes, know you and 1 am delighted to see
you," ventured the President. But you
must put your application in writing Yes,
put II in writing and send it to me with
your Endorsements. and I'll see what can be
done" Again did the tall man lean for
ward and whisper, this time his face GRIM
son with the bushes OF embarrassment
'Oh, l know all about that. Yes, certainly
1 do. And 1 have no doubt you would fill
the bill. But I don't know whether or
not there is a vacancy. Don't you know
that il is impossible for me TO keep all
these things In my head? Write out your