The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-04-10
Impressions of Roosevelt.

1CllONS.
Impressions of Roosevelt.
The legislators figured largely in the
reception to President Roosevelt. 1t
was NadiSOn'S greeting and Madison
paid the bills. 1t was suggested that
the legislature be asked to appropriate
for the purpose but the error in this
was detected by the keen ones, who
said it would make a state scandal.
If the state paid the bills for Madi-
sons greetings, it would be just as
logical to ask the state to pay for
La Crosses and Milwaukee's expenses.
Theodore Roosevelt always pleases,
and it was interesting to see him and
Governor La Toilette together, both
men with energy and power with
men. The president has grown stocky
and looked like quite a large man
beside our governor. But when it
came to addressing the enormous
crowd in Capitol park, Gov. La Toilet
te's voice reached far beyond the
presidents though the latter is used to
speaking out doors Gov. La Follette's
Introduction favored of his own po-
litical mission; the earnestness of the
man showed IN the illusions to cour-
age and Independence. President
Roosevelt pleased people immensely.
He has frank, down right way about
him that takes all classes; he begins
his speech generally with playful
allusion to football or the weather,
Or one other topic that every kind of
man and woman understands; and yet
he is altogether dignified and especial
" is he scholarly. He evidently did
not know to just what he had come
in addressing the joint session of the
legislature in the assembly chamber,
for it was mostly about the beauty
OF Madison and the State University,
yet it was we'll received. At times the
presidents talk runs closely onto
preaching" but it is wholesome
preaching and they take it we'll.
Roosevelt's speeches are much alike
they deal with decency "a favorite
world, with common sense and useful,
plain strong living. Coming from an
average citizen much of it would sound
commonplace. Coming from the presi-
dent, it has immense weight. His
words are backed by character. He
looks the strong, clean, pure. fearless
exponent of what he talks about. No
one can estimate the influence on ma
ti0nal ideals, especially of young men.
Primary Election Deadlock.
l regret to say the feeling between
the factions Is peculiarly intense at
this time. 1t is the primary election
bill that does it, for none who fails
to understand the strength of the op-
position to that plan can comprehend
the situation. To the old school DO
liticians who are afraid the direct vote
menaces the success they have under
the present system. and who fear it
means La FOllette's promotion
should be added those who do not
believe the representative system can
be abandoned without greatly promot-
ing the politicians trade. Of course it
is absurd that both classes of men
should be in opposition to the plan, for
it cannot both promote political man
covering ard put stop to it. The
fact is there is so much politics mixed
up in the contest that the proposition
of the direct vote does not stand On
it's merits. The danger now is that
nothing will be enacted. II the COVER
nor holds out, this will be the out
come, for the opposition senator's will
not concede much more, if anything
The session cannot last much longer
ito May LIST and possibly to Mag l5J.