The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-09-27
TROUBLE IN HOUSEHOLD.
Not So Much Harmony I'm Republican
banks as Might he Desired.

him to abandon his Western cam
naigning crusade, the open rebellion
against Boss Platt in New York, and
Sneaker Henderson's cowardly retreat
from the political battlefield, has caus-
ed no end of trouble in the Republi-
can household. 1t looks very much as
though the dissentions in the Repub-
Ucan camp might help to bring about
the much-desired harmony in the
Democratic party.
Some of the most conservative mem
hers of the Republican party, in pri-
yate conversation, do not hesitate to
saw that their party is in a badly de-
noralized condition. In years gone
nv they have depended upon party
discipline and boss rule to overcome
the widest and most dangerous differ
ences of opinion on national issues.
lust now there appears to be no fully
recognized leader whom the rank and
file are willing to follow blindly and
with confidence. President Roosevelt
is making heroic efforts to play the
mart, but way down under the sur
face there is a feeling of uncertainty
and Indifference among the veteran
bosses of the G. o. p. which almost
means treachery to the Roosevelt
methods of administration.
The Republican party is noted for
its recuperative faculties, and tit may
do the get together act before alb
sOlute Democratic harmony heaves in
sight There is an ancient proverb to
that effect that those whom the Gods
would destroy, they first make mad"
II is evident that the Republican man
ayers in the West, in New York and
Pennsylvania, are mad through and
through, and opportunities for treach-
wide all
down the Republican line.
Il required some very vigorous and
strenuous talk on the part of the
Presidents friends to induce him to
consent to abandon his much talked
of and carefully prepared Western
trip. He realized that some of the Re
publican bosses of the West, as we'll
as those of the East, objected to his
Independent and broad gauge express
sions on tariff revision and anti-trusts.
1t was for that very reason that he
would have preferred to complete his
tour as originally arranged. 1t re-
duired the earnest pleading of Secre-
tary Root to convince him that he
was taking a desperate chance in re-
fusing or delaying the relief which
the operation performed upon
his leg at Indianapolis prom
ised The tried and true
friends of President Roosevelt were
convinced that serious results might
follow further postponement of the
operation. The President protested
against any suggestion which contem-
plated the abandonment of his trip. He
probably imagined that his change of
programme might be attributed to 9TH
er motives, by his enemies.
After the actual situation had been
fully explained to Secretary Root, the
latter had heart to heart talk with
the President, during which he said in
substance in a playful, but at the same
time impressive way: I'VE will have
TO cut off your head to save your leg.
This expression was actually made use
of during the interview between the
President and Secretary Root, and the
President realized the force of it, and
reluctantly yielded to the inevitable.
In this connection it is interesting to
note how adroitly and tactful Secre-
tary Cortelyou managed to keep the
presidential secret until after the con-
sultation of the surgeons was complet-
ed at the Columbia Club. in Indian
apolis While at Detroit the abscess on
the Presidents leg commenced to grow
troublesome A consultation between
Surgeon Lung and DR.. Richardson, ac-
companying the presidential party, was
held soon after Senator Beveridge
boarded the train after its entrance
into Indiana. At the suggestion of Sen
ator Beveridge, Drs. oliver, Cook and
Jameson, skilled surgeons of indian
apolis, were telegraphed to meet the
presidential train at the station. In
Indianapolis, without letting anyone
know of their mission.
When the train pulled into the sta
ton, there was big crowd, plenty of
excitement among the local committee
men and a general desire to give the
President a royal greeting 1t was dur
ing this excitement that Secretary Cor
telyou, with Senator Beveridge, quiet
ly lost themselves in the crowd and
found their way to Drs. Oliver, Cook
and Jameson. Secretary Cortelyou
briefly explained the situation 10 the
indianapolis doctors. and impressed
upon them the desire for
absolute secrecy for the time
being Fortunately two of the
doctors were members of the local
reception committee, hence no suspl-
cions We're aroused when Surgeon Lung
was invited to sit in the carriage with
the three Indianapolis doctors during
the ride from, the station to the Co
lumbia Club. In the meantime Surgeon
Lung had an opportunity 10 explain
the Presidents condition to his medi-
cal colleagues. So carefully was
the secret guarded that no one outside
OF the Presidents immediate IFleNuS
and the three doctors knew of the OPP
Grafton, and the abandonment OF the
trip until Secretary Cortelyou calmly
handed to the press associations copies
of the official bulletin on the subject.
Even the representatives of the Indian
apolis newspapers who felt as Though
they should have had the first news OF
the sensational termination of the pres
idential trip, admitted that Secretary
Cortelyou is past master in the art OF
handling a delicate subject with re-
markable tact and discretion.
While upon the operating table the
presidential patient displayed charac-
teristic cheerfulness and courage. In
dressing the wound it was necessary
to battle the limb repeatedly with an
antiseptic solution. The President for
time, could not understand why II
was necessary to wash his leg so many
times, and finally Whens the washing
process was completed, he turned 10
one of the attendants and playfully
remarked:
What a magnificent headline this
performance would furnish for sem
sational newspaper: Washed at Last.
Even if the surroundings had been
more serious, it is doubtful whether II
would have been possible to suppress
the merriment which the President
provoked
week or ten days of absolute rest
VIII do the President no harm, and II
Is expected to do him much good. Those