The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-08
TOUR Fol ROOSEVELT
Why Fresi+21t Fms to Speno
Two Years ABROAD.
WISHES TAFT TO BE FREE.

WISHES lAFI ~ 6e tKEE
He Would Be Beyond the Reach ot
Any Who Might Seek His lnfuene,
With the Secretary If Elected His
suecessor-Hopes to Hunt In African
WiIds.
Unless there Is a change In his pres.
ent intentions President Roosevelt will
leave the United States soon after the
Inauguration Of his successor on March
4 next and will not return for two
years. There have been several reports
In the last few months regarding the
plans Of MI. Roosevelt for the disp1si-
ton Of his time after his retirement
from the presidency. None Of them
has been authoritative. It Is possible
now, however, says a Washington spe-
cial dispatch to the New York Times.
to make a positive statement 80 far as
the present plans Of the president are
concerned.
A considerable part of the two years
which he purposes to spend abroad
will be devoted by MI. Roosevelt to
the hunting of big game. He is likely
to go first to Africa. Recently he had
q long conversation with q man who
has spent much time in hunting in
Africa. and the president was intense.
~ interested In the first hand account
Of the sport which he received. He
feels that he has earned the right to
put In a portion Of his time In the
sport which most appeals to him.
Where he will so besides Africa has
not yet been considered.
The president proposes to spend two
years away from the United States for
two reasons. Rest and the recreation
OF hunting are only the minor ones.
He intends to put himself beyond the
reach of those persons who would In.
evitably seek. if he were within reach,
to use his influence with the new ad.
nlnistration.
: He Is convinced that Secretary Taft
will be nominated by the Republican
convention at Chicago and will be
GICStCu. lac 10 Vi SUu st AWARE VI ILle
manner in which the charge has been
circulated that Taft would be only q
Roosevelt man as president and that
whatever Taft as president might do
It would be ascribed to the Roosevelt
influence. Because of this situation he
purposes to take himself W of the
country, where it will be impossible to
repeat any such charge against Presl-
dent Taft. In other words, he intends
to save both Taft and himself embar-
rassment.
A confidential friend Of President
Roosevelt said the other day, in speak,
ing of the contemplated trip abroad:
II have never heard the president
say it In so many words, but ! am
convinced that he is determined to give
MI. Taft an absolutely free hand. If
Mr.. Roosevelt should remain In this
country and be accessible to citi-
Zens, everything that Mr.. Taft would
do as president would be discussed
with relation to Roosevelt. Politicians
DESTROYS Of reaching Taft would insist
Opou Allu oOSuAiS AAOooNNSit. ADONA -
Of the very intimate relations which
have existed between the president and
secretary of war the embarrassment
would be augmented. But after MIR,
Roosevelt has been out Of the country
for two years no such complication
would be possible"
Personally it will be much more sat
isfactory to Mr.. Roosevelt to be away
from the country II he were to re-
main here he would be subjected to
great pressure from many men who
thought him under obligation to them
and who desire to obtain his influence
with the new administration.
Mr.. Roosevelt believes thoroughly in
the convention which makes 1t unbe-
coming to an ex-president to prefer
q request to his successor. This Is a
convention to which Mr.. Cleveland has
adhered strictly. Mr.. Cleveland has
written a few letters which have been
used by their recipients IN the effort
to obtain some favors. but he has not
made a direct request He did not ask
Harrison or Mckinley for anything;
neither has he ever aaked Mr.. Roose-
welt for anything. Mr.. Roosevelt as
ex-president will follow the tradition.
In travelling abroad MI. Roosevelt
will not make any such tour as Gen
eral Grant did after retiring from the
presidency. General Grant was re
ceived In state by emperors and kings
whorovor no wont YYo WA fotQi Ms
no other American eve has been. Mr.
Roosevelt will avoid all that, and by
spending Q good part Of his time II
pursuit Of game be win put himself
out Of the way ot'sociAf entertainment
Smoking Room In Womsn's Club.
A smoking o u being 6ttsd up II