New-York tribune., 1907-10-06
ROOSEFELT, POLITICIAN.
Ho,c He Keeps Close to the People
and Hears UThat Is SAID of Him

II the astute and crafty Lou Payn who
said one day. after interesting interview with
the President of the United States: That man
Roosevelt is the greatest politician of them all
I've fought him for twenty years l never liked
him. hut I'll say this for him: He's always will
ing 10 put up his hands and have IL out fair and
square There was never a politician like him
The White III use barber shop is the place
where votes have been made by the hundred
II isn't barber shop AT all, but a narrow re
Ception room located betwt tn" Presidents
office and the Office Of his secretary. y door at
one end opens into the veStiEJIe. where the
Presidents personal ddorkeeper sits. In the
hours when the President i receiving visitors
some wait IN tn Cabinet room. others in Mr.
Loeb's and others in the barber shop.
The President goes back and f1rth between tnt
three rooms and his own office, GiSposinG OF his
callers at rapid rate. II he tudS in the bar
Der shop or MI Loeb's room some body with
whom he wants tu talk privately. he sends him
into the Cabinet room There is no private con
versation in Mr.. Loehs room Sometimes peo-
pie there Try To- whisper 10 the President. But ne
will have none of IT. He talks in voice that
everybody can hear. and the whisperer shuts up
and doesn't linEer. When mos; of the visitors are
gone II Is shaving time. me Htte room De
tween the Presidents Office and Mr.. LoebS
room Is cleared by then. and Mr. Roosevelt
seats himself I'm a chair to he barbered Here
he receives people with whom ne wants 10
talk, but To whom he could MT give enough at
tention i'm the rush hours or late conerS who
have important business.
Always glad to see YOU he says through
the lather that covers his face as a friend steps
into the room. The presence OF tl.' odrDer. one
of the regular employees of the White House.
does make him retiCeut. He talks freely.
commenting men and things in a way that
emphasizes the visitors sense OF intimacy.
When he becomes animated and raises himself
in the chair the barber withdrawS the razor
dexterously and avoids cash.
That man campaigns next 10 the ground"
was the tribute Of Colonel William Greene Ster-
rett of Texas To the Presidents methods Of
getting next To people. Colonel Ster~ett is
Democrat. but he admires Mr. Roosevelt eX-
travagantly- He is a philosopher and student
of human nature. and his tribute the out
come of study of the President at close range
Mr.. Roosevelt does campaign next TO the ground
His is the direct personal appeal system.
You. my comrade," he says. from the ear
platform the speakers stand. pointing his
finger at man wearing a Grand Army but
ton.-"You, my comrade. fought in big war
while | fought in a little war Naturally You
my cOmrade' is tlattered. The crowd cheers
and You. my comrade' goes home tell his
sons and grandsons that the Republican party
Is the only party-"and Theodore Roosevelt
ought to be President for life
This personal appeal method OF the President
is perfectly natural He likes TO talk To tndt-
viduals. II he has an eye to the popularity OF
this way of doing things at least it isn't mere
acting American OF foreigner. Jew or Gentle,
patrician or plebeian-in every man with whom
he comes in contact he finds something to inter-
est him. He has a way of getting at what Is
nearest a mans heart-his fad or his fOndest
hope.
This invitation to intimate acquaintance and
TO exchange OF confidence which the Presidents
manner implies brings him mass of unofficial
information that other President ever re-
ceived He hears everything. or practically
everything that is being said about him. Some
Presidents heard nothing. Those in closest
touch with them were too much in awe of the
Presidential dignity TO unbosom themselves OF
important news which 1t would be 10 the Presi-
dents advantage to know. With Mr Roosevelt
II is different He finds out what public men
saving of him privately. He listens to funny
stories about himself and laughs heartily over