The river press., 1904-10-19
WATERS OMAN Wall
THIS TIME IRIS ROOSEVELT THAR
hE'6 AFRAID Or.
The Cassandra of Americas Politics
Utters Dismal AowIs ana Direful
Predictions About Roosevelt and
Republicans. S

On the evening Of Sept. q, 1904, the
land was at peace, and no a,lguries of
dread possessed it. Vermont had said
its say, in no nnlneaning manner. and
all was calm in city and country, while
in New York was gathering band, just
few faithful editors Of Democratic
antecedents. to talk over the political sit
uatian. and ineideeptally deyour, that
square meal which, when eaten id public
and accompanied by speeches. is called
banquet.
Among the chivalry which gathered
there was Henry Watterson Of Ken
tucky. The moment he was seen at tho
festive board those editors and specta-
tors who are accustomed to observe tho
usual progress OF events knew that some
thing was going to happen. They Ill
yined that Henry had beet seeing
things It is way he has. And the,,
he says things
Time rolled on. The rich New York
viands, prepared for the unaccustomed
palates Of the visiting editors, the fiery
cocktails. the generous wines, the nips Of
strong waters, all these had met the
fate prepared for them. And then came
Watterson, as chief speaker OF the even-
ing.
Watterson is at times an excitable
man. This was one of the times. He
was not only excited, he was painfully,
morbidly scared And of all things in
the world, this brave, loyal, chivalrous
American gentleman was afraid Of an
other brave, loyal, chivalrous American
gentleman-the President Of the United
States, Theodore Roosevelt
There was rant about raising tho
black flag" ''scuttling the ship of civil
service ':and ''cutting the throat of re-
ciprocity" which made Watterson's hear
ers turn pale, though they knew no moro
than did the speaker to what these trucu-
lent words referred.
The trembling editors listened, appal}-
| ed Watterson lowered his voice and
| muttered forth charges Of ruth and ruin
against Roosevelt past, Roosevelt pres
ent, Roosevelt future. Again he paved
the earth, shook his fists aloft and bel
lowed his predictions Of an everlasting
candidate for the presidency, and an ev-
erlasting President in the person Of The
odore Roosevelt, if the Republicans COM
tinue i'll power Watterson's auditors
thought ofCarter III. Harrison I. and Car
ter II. Harrison H., perennial and ever
blooming Mayors Of Chicago, but, as
| these examples of political longevity be-
long to the Democratic party, it calmed
the nerves of the wrought-up banquet
ers, and they We're able to brace up and
listen to the impassioned gentleman from
Kentucky
The flood Of oratory went on and on,
and when it was over the editors felt re-
ieved, because no seizure of fatal
character had made fitting climax to the
utterances Of the choleric speaker, whose
| eloquence has been whetted for years,
| upon the obtrusive angles Of his own
party.
And then the telegraphic wires bore;
as upon the wings OF the wind, the
words Of Watterson, to be printed in the
morning papers that there could be read.
by the telling millions, the fatal words
OF objurgation, adjuration and divina-
tion. Is.
The public read the burning words
of Watterson with that fatal apathy
which greets the efforts of those who, in
the first place, talk too much, and in the
second place, habitually ovcrshoot the
mark. There was IL good-natured laugh,
perhaps, as some stalwart .Amcrican
glanced over the ''scare heads OF the
morning papers, and one or another OF
tho great army of frecmen said to his
neighbors, as he looked up from the
warnings. denunciations and predictions
of the hysteri,al orator Of Louisville.
'Wattcrson's broke loose again.!
And that was all,