The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-21
His Good Humor In Perennial and Per-
vasfve, and soon Spreads from the
Train to the City Crowds.
MORNING ROADSIDE INCIDENT
CoMPANIONABLE TALK TO A CROWD
AT AN OHIO STATION.
Reception of Visitors at the Hotel
Attitude of the People Toward Their
Chfef-subjects Of His Speeches.
In.claI 70 ths Indianapolis Iournal.

O.s sept. Il-trlenQly anu
frank is the attitude OF President Roose-
Welt on this journey among the people.
He is demonstrating in many big and little
ways that ne wants to become ~acquaint-
ed. At no time is there a loss Of dignity,
a failure TO appreciate the respect due his
great office or a tendency to infringe on
honest proprieties. But he does want the
people to know their President and he
certainly wants to be better acquainted as
President In many OF the cities where he
will stop he has made addresses before
this, but not as President. Even the tour
he made In the West as Vice President
was not particularly impressive. for at
that time no one cared particularly h
the views of the Vice President might be.
Now they are of Importance, OF far-reach-
Ing consequence. The President feels this
as a responsibility. He Is the chief adj
ministrative officer OF the greatest republic
on earth and wants to be understood by
TIE sovereign citizenship. At the same
time ne desires to be In just as close sym
psthy with the people.
Assuming this to be one Of the RESPONSE
bilities OF his great office there are no half
way measures with the President. He ac-
cepts 1t as a job OF work and takes care of
1t to the best of his ability. His great
speech before the Cincinnati business men
tonight indicates that he intends to OBJ
serve his duty in the premises to the letter.
He goes a step further in his trust speech
than he went at Wheeling or in his New
England speeches. 1t is perhaps not be-
cause he has changed his views, or even
progressed, but because he Is developing
- xrhtoL - hofoo rnoda The
people are thinking about trusts, about
the tariff as Ii Is applied to articles made
by trusts, about the tariff as 1T applies to
the general conditions of the country, about
Cuban reciprocity. about reciprocity in gen.
.eral, about the relation Of employees and
employers. and he will speak his mind free
~ on these questions in different places on
his Western trip. The expressions Will be
carefully considered and bear the impress
OF his solemn and earnest conviction and
elaboration.
sees the practical and even original appli-
cation Of the President. In the first place..
he is keeping away from the politicians and
even officials. He meets them, but does not
send for them. When they come IL is on
the same footing as others. He prefers the
honest expression OF men who have no spe-
cial interest, and I'm his informal interviews
It Is to be seen that he is always gathering
information. "
"A WAYSIDE INCIDENT.
This morning, at a little village In Ohio
where the train stopped for water for the
engine. the President stepped to the rear
platform to take a look. He was in the
midst of his breakfast. A few men, women
and children who knew of the coming Of
the train were on hand to gaze and even
stare at the distinguished traveller. Soon
there were two-score around the car. The
President smiled pleasantly and said Good
morning." Some of the boys shouted back
q CHEEKY good morning. The President
said In a conversational tone that he was
glad to see them, and that, while he did not
intend to make a speech. for lack of time,
he must say that he felt a real glow OF
pleasure to have persons come to meet him
The staring look quickly left the faces
of this increasing throng. All were grim
ming and gawking as though an old friend
had come to see them, and they hardly
knew what to say. As the President con-
tinued his friendly chatting, soon all were
perfectly at home. He made friends with
a baby boy which a mother was holding
up TO see. and assured the mother that
as a family man he was pleased to see her
there with her hopeful. When he was leav-
ing he said that he would not be respon-
which were preparing. 1t was plain that
half the women there had left the kitchen
TO get a glimpse of the President and that
man tHC AAC "NAC "@Ae
which would not be cooked until the Pres
ident left. The appreciation of the situation
was so pat that everybody laughed. and
as they dispersed IL was to discuss the
President of the United States as though
he were one OF their kind, moving all
about them.
train at the head Of the committee. and he
has sat by the side of the President the
greater part OF the day while he was meet
ton here and there as to who this and that
visitor might be. One of the first callers
was DIR. j. G.. Monfort ninety-three years
teen Presidents of the United States be-
fore he met President Roosevelt. Mr..
Roosevelt was very much interested in this.
saying that he had at last found a man
woul could give him most valuable point
ers. having become an expert in the judy
ing of Presidents. Another. venerable caller
was ]. @. Schmidlapp, a banker, the most
Intimate Of McKinley's friends In Cincin-
natl. Another was Leopold Markbreit, a
German editor. who fifty years ago was one
of the strongest political supporters of John
Serman. He still keeps in touch with pol
itics. but now is so feeble that he has to
have assistance In walking. The President
saw him coming into the room. and while
went across the room to give him his arm,
and after introductiohs aided him to a COM
Portable chair In the corner of the room.
a number OF times to see others, but re-
turned 10 finish his chat. When the aged
German leII tears were streaming down his
cheek as he expressed his admiration of
and confidence in the President.
HEARTFELT RECEPTION.
One thing can be said about the recep-
tion which the President got here: 1t
comes from the heart. The writer mingled
with the throngs in the street who waited
for hours and hours for the President to
pass in a carriage. They feel a deep ten
derness and affection for Roosevelt. They
look upon him as a man who is to accom-
plish wonderful things for them. As to
this there can be no doubts Four out of
nve speak OF him as Teddy" IL is Ted
dy' is going to do this and that. Teddy
looks Just like his picture. or Teddy is
going 10 soak something" or make some
body sit up straight" etc. There did not
seem TO be much politics in the street COM
ments. There were sharp discussions and
disputes which one is apt To hear from
street crowds on such occasions. The tone
was quite familiar. Teddy" was one OF
them.
There were bands and marching clubs.
luncheons and dinners. visiting and sing
ing. cheering and listening and all I'm all
a first rate show In Cincinnati to-day. The
prevailing characteristic of IL all is the
bright and jolly cheerfulness of the Presi-
dent. He knows that the people who came
to see him are having a holiday. In a
sense his 1ve-thousanG-miles trip In an
excursion. In the temporary White House
OF the President pervades from one end 10
the other. IL becomes quickly infectious
IN the town. The President lets III be
known that he does not care for long. set
speeches He does not mind miDgIing with
= rcomful or visitors, but he objects 20