Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-07-01
ROOSEVELT THE DICTATOR
AT REPUBI jean CONVENTION
Walter WeIIman, the Noted Newspaper Cores
pOndent, Describes the Situation.

If you want to bring before your minds eye
definite picture OF the Republican national
| convention of 1904, all you have to do is to
| imagine huge elephant moving along with
reluctant, though obedient, stride, and Teddy
Roosevelt sitting on the back OF him, goad in
his hand.
Teddy is smiling that wel-known smile of
his. The smile which, years ago, led Roscoe
Conkling to speak of its owner as "That denti-
fetal young man." But the mien of the ele-
plant is sedate, sober, resigned, at times almost
sullen. He obeys but he is not over.happv.
He turns to the right or left stops or advances,
kcwtows or snorts, according to the word that
comes from his master OH the fighting bridge,
but he is not enthusiastic about it.
In the first place, this is new master, and
the beast is not yet fully accustomed to his
style; and in the second place, there are mo-
ments when this elephant seems almost human
in that he refuses to get gay and joyous about
"sure thing" Fol most of the movements
ard cavorting of the convention in its plelim-
nary and preparatory stage, the foregoing pic
ture will suffice as a graphic and reasonably
accurate presentation. AS to all the really i'm
portant developments, it is true to life. But
for some of the minor features of the show we
must substitute another tableau.
CORPORATIONS HAVE INNING.
glistening locomotive pulling a gorgeous
private car with the president of the road
aboard, and with sundry general managers, po-
litical agents and members of the national
committee and divers politicians of the profess
sional school on hand as his guests.
When Teddy and the elephant want the
right of.way, it is theirs and the locomotive
must take to the side. track; but when they
choose to retire for moments rest, or for APP
pearances' sake, the engine and the private
car come on the course and enjoy themselves
while they may. A little imagination, and
glance now and then behind the scenes, and
we may convert otherwise dull show to
fairly interesting circus
President Roosevelt is running this conven-
ton in all the respects which he cares to exert
his authority, and when he temporarily abdi-
Gates in order tina. he may not be accused of
irving to be the whole Durbar, our friends OF
the railroads ana the Col pOIatlOIlS Coie III Ioi
b,ief inning. Among the things as to which
Mr.. Roosevelt has his own sweet way may be
mentioned the following:
He named the temporary presiding officer of
the convention, He named the per-
manent chairman of the convention.
He wrote the platform for his committee on
resolutions to adopt and the convention to rat
ify, the actual work of writing having been
done under his direction by Senator Lodge, as
sisted by Elihu Root, Nicholas Murray Butler,
Uncle Zoe and several of the older statesmen of
the senate.
He named the chairman of the national Re-
publican committee, and his name is George
B. Corteyou There was baking at the Cor
telyou suggestion, and grumbling and growing
and proposals to compromise, but it ended IN
talk. When the man in the howdah Yields his
sharp pointed bat, the fellows down between
the legs of the elephant stop kicking and turn
to dancing. Mt Cortelyou was chosen chair
man by unanimous vote.
He named the secretary of the national com
mittee, and his name is Elmer Dover, former
man of affairs of we'll eloved Mark Hanna.
These are the principal things which are