Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-05-26
DOCKSTADER'S JOKE.
ROOsevelt's Secret Service Man Hunted
the Minstrel Down,

Let the dwellcrs in the southland rage
and imagine a vain thing. They will be
quito mistaken. Theodore Roosevelt
President OF the United states. did not
assist into his carriage Booker Il. WASH
ington, president Of Tuskegcc, in Wash
ington the other day. says the New York
Globe.
There was coorcd gentleman in tho
woodpilo beyond dispute. But it was Lew
Dockstadcr. ana this afternoon he has
the satisfaction of knowing that he so
disturbed the morning calm which is so
marked "A feature of the White House
thcs" days that the President of the
United States felt constrained to put a
secret service agent on his trail and pull
him out of the woodpilc, photogra phic
films, Dockstadcr smile. AMI all. Incl
dcntally, the eminent minstrel has obtain
cd several pages of excellent advertising
notice.
service agent arrived in this city from
Washington. commissioned by Mr.. Roosc-
Welt to find DoCkstader at all haza rdS
and obtain from him the films used in
the moving picture machine which, in
front Of the Capitol yesterday. had dick
cd away mcrrly while a man made up
10 resemble tn" strenuous one had helped
into his carriage a gentleman who locked
as if he had come straight from T1ske-
gee.
Tho secret service man went directly
to Inspector McClusky, who detailed De
tcctivc Sergeant Morris to accompany
him The two men then hurried uptown
to the Marlborough Hotel, whore they
discovered the object of their moment
Gus search. as mild a hammered man as
ever set a White -uouse by the ears
Would Mr. Dockstadcr convey himself
and his films 10 Inspector McClusky 5
office? Mr. Dockstader would and did
Inspector McClusky felt the case was
so grave that he escorted the minstrel
into the awful reccsses OF CommiSs Toner
McAdOo's office. and stood him up before
the commissioner Something told Mr.
Dockstadcr he was expected to utter Il
few wcll-choscn remarks.
II didn't ret no si0W,00o from the
Democratic party for doing this sirhcd
the black face comedian. with a far
away look in his eyes. "Thcrc's absolute
ly no politics in it
"Mr. Roosevelt is a broad minded man.
and | feel certain he will be thoroughly
satisfied when he learns the facts. You
see, commissioner, I'm going to put on a
rev minstrel monolo2uc next season in
which | drop out of balloon while made
up as Booker T. Washington, and
wanted a Washington atmosphere to tho
Thing, so l chose the Capitol as a set
ting"
mo. it wasn't an advertising dodge.
vas thoroughly in earnest in the matter.
know all the newspaper fellows in
Washington. and if I'd wanted press
notices I'd have told 'em the affair was
coming off But | told No ono about it. -
Whcrcupon Mr.. Dockstador unloadod
the films from his ample person. and
unburdcnod not only his own mind but
that of Il certain disnitary who shall he
namoloss.
Inspector NcClusky handed the photo
graphic material over to the secret serv-
ice agent and the latter headed south at
once for the banks Of the Potomac. AS
far as could he learned. tho secret scrv-
ice agent did not state what had been
said to him before he left the White
House, but he looked prcternaturally
solemn all day.
Some hours later happy looking indi-
vidual was seen floating lightly along
Broadway, touching the pavement only
at intervals. He WAS a press agent by
trade and his salary had just been
raised.