The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-27
VISIT TO THE PRESIDENT.
Seventh Districts New Congressman
Talks With Roosevelt.

ScvSHbn DtStfiCt'S NEW congressman
Talks With Roosevelt.
A dispatch from Washington to the
Kansas City Times says:
Victor Murdoch wss q White House
visitor Saturday. The new congressman
from the Seventh Kansas district was
introduced to the president by Senator
Long and the three talked about the
west and politics. Mr. Murdoch admitted
that he liked it.
What impressed ple most" said Mr.
Murdoch. lis that the president, in the
White House, is exactly the same kind
of man the fellows out in the Seventh
district think he is.
Il came away marking this as remark
able that Theodore Roosevelt, in a capital
where conventionalities often wrench an
American citizen, IS the man before he is
the official His quick step his handshake
his buoyant aggression in conversation
are without affectation, the flowers of
an astounding mental and physical vigor.
I have found this true of many public
men, that the popular estimate of them
and their actual personalities differed
materially.
impression his admirers out in Kansas
have of him is verified to the hair in the
White house believe men are appointed
in this world for occasions. 1 believe
Roosevelt as an executive is destined t.
some notably magnificent service to this
nation. His intimacy with the condi-
tons of the country. his sympathy with
the aspiration of the Individual his alb
solute fidelity TO right and his unc0m-
promising antagonism to wrong are to
have, in the nature of things, more than
a page in the. general history of the fu-
ture."
MIR. Murdock's visit to the White house
gave him the first taste of the sweets of
talked to him for a few minutes end last
afternoon printed what follows:
Mr.. Murdoch, a handsome young man.
with red hair, won his way to congress
in the most novel campaign known ia
Kansas since the days when Jerry Simp-
son used to enliven things. In fact, Mr.
Murdoch now represents the old Simpson
district. When Mr. Long was elevated
from the house to the senate and q va
cancy was created in this district, eigh-
teen Republicans announced themselves
as candidates. There We're two red head
ed men in the number, and they made
compact alliance. agreeing THAT the weak
er should withdraw in the interest of the
other at the best moment.
Victor Murdoch had been a newspaper
reporter, and his strongest ambition for
years had been to become the Washington
correspondent of a big paper He worked
as a reporter at Chicago for a number
of years and had almost gained his
coveted desire at one time He had even
started to the train with the managing
editor Of the Chicago-Record Herald, TO
come to Washington as one OF the staff
of the paper here. but he was recalled
before the train pulled out Nyith all his
ambitions crushed. he declared he would
come to Washington as Republican in
congress. lie located in Kansas. where
he kept up his newspaper connections. and
at the same time made friends. The
resignation OF Mr.. Long to become sena-
tor furnished him the opening, and he
entered the campaign. From the first his
campaign cry was that the red headed
men ought TO be represented in congress.
He pointed out in his speeches that one
out of every nine or ten men are read
headed. but that the men with the fiery
top pieces did not get their share Of the
political honors He insisted that a red
headed man ought TO he sent to congress
from that district
The other red-headed man preached
the same doctrine from the stump. At
first the platform of the rcd-headed men
was laughed at. but soon it came to be
regarded seriously. The red-headed men
in the district. and for that. matter, all
over the state, became Interested and
gave their assistance. II was finally seen
that Murdoch was the stronger Of the
TWO red-headed men in the race and the
other man withdrew I'm his favor Then
began 20 loom up strongly. Not
only were all the Republicans with sun
set hued hirsute head coverings backing
Murdoch. but many others began to sun
port him. The ladies also admired hi
campaign. as well as his good looks and
attractive manners. The upshat 81 it all
was that he won the nomination. He
made the same ight IN the campaixn for
election. and the red-headed men rallied
around him legally His ambition TO
come to Washington has been gratirei.
although he vows that he would have
preferred TO have come as 4 correspond
ent. His friends predict Tor him bril-
liant career