Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-28
HE MAY NOT HUNT
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S DISAP-
PoINTMENT Is GREAT.
Does Not Want to Be Followed by
Newspaper Men, but to Go
Off Untrameled.

President Roosevelt does not expect the
pleasure of any hunting this year. 1t is a
great disappointment to him, but he is get
ting tired Of that kind Of sportsman's hunt
with red-fire accompanrhents and vivid
newspaper stories. Those who know him
realize that his is the true spirit Of the
hunter. The thrilling ride or dash after the
game, the quick shot in the solitude Of the
woods, and communion with nature as ex-
emplified in the trees in the noises OF the
birds and the animals, and otherwise, are
what he longs for. He sees no way of get
ting it, however, because of the persistence
with which he Is followed by newspaper
men,, and he does not want to play to the
galleries" 1t is absurd to him, and while
his whole nature yearns for few weeks or
complete disappearance from public affairs,
public men and the newspapers, he has not
been able to evolve any plan that will Sc
cure him just what he wants.
1t has been suggested to him that Secre-
tary Cortelyou communicate with the three
press associations Of the country and with
all the leading newspapers and ascertain II
they will not agree to call their correspond
ents off the trail Of the President long
enough to let him disappear into the Yei-
lowstone Park with few close friends
and there enjoy himself as he did years
ago, before he became President. Some
thing of the kind may finally be done, but
there IS not one TO make promises IOT the
host Of smaller newspapers and for inde-
pendent newspaper and magazine writers
who would follow close after the President,
and necessitate the maintenance of guard
to prevent access to him. The President
does not want to do this. 1t would look
too much like monarchy for his democratic
nature, and yet there is a longing in his
whole makeup to get one more chance at
the bear family, many of the relatives of
which so completely evaded him when he
slipped away into the Mississippi swamps
last November. There are bears In abun-
dance in the Yellowstone and western sena-
tors and representatives are placing before
the President the most alluring stories of
the fine sport he would have if he should
GO there.
The President has promised to go west
and to the Pacific coast this spring and
summer, and he will begin his journey in
April, going first to st. Louis to assist in
breaking ground for the great exposition.
From there he will journey slowly west
ward making longer trip than that Of the
late President Mckinley nearly two years
ago. To breathe the atmosphere and free
dom Of the western plains and mountains
and yet be deprived of hunt will be q sore
punishment to the President, and his friends
are almost sure to try to arrange plan by
which he can escape the glaring headlines
and the sensational stories of newspapers.
The President recognizes the deep interest
that would attach to his movements and the
desire Of the public to keep track Of his
doings, but he does not think it is reces-
sary that everything he does should be
chronicled minutely each day, especially
full details of the escape Of every bear.