The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-11-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.

AAS P'SSS Va enS @Ouuhy opPGutS " US
very active just at the present time in
search for employment for reputed very
strenuous gentleman who it IS expected
will have nothing to do in an official way
with the government after the fourth Of
next March. He is to kill elephants in
Africa; to preside as president of Harvard
University in the chair Of DIR. Eliot, re.
signed; he is to edit magazine; write
stories in an oracular style for another
magazine; to be senator from New York
in place of Senator Plat, whose term ex-
pires on March the fourth next at noon.
That President Roosevelt may be the
successor of Senator Plat in the Senate
is thought by many TO be quite probable.
Some claim to have assurances from the
President himself that he should be will.
ing to 60 to the Senate where seven years
ago for short time he presided as vice.
president. A successor to Senator Plat
must be chosen by the, New York legis-
latnre this winter and will be sworn in
on March 4th next. The Senate will con.
yene Immediately in extraordinary session
for the purpose of confirming the new
cabinet and other officials who may be
appointed and to perform such other i'm.
portant business as may come before it.
The full Congress will be convened in a
week or two after the Inauguration Of
President-elect Taft and it will be the
duty of the new Senator from New York
to devote his time continually for several
months to important public business with
which no one will be in closer touch than
the retiring President. II is true that the
President has given ont that he will leave
the country within nine days after March
the fourth. All his plans have been
arranged for his African cunning ex-
cursion which may cover period of
weeks or months. After that, il is said
be will visit number of foreign countries
and he is engaged to deliver lecture at
Oxford University. If half the plans
arranged for the President are carried out.
there will be no surcease fhis strenuous.
ness.
Meanwhile. he is in excellent health
and in the finest physical condition. l
saw him mount his horse Friday with the
agility of man of>tweuty one and ride
off at tfot. An hour before that he
made his first visit to the Army War Col
lege. He had long been expected there
aud on more than one occasion had plan.
ed to 60. General Bell, chief OF staff,
had asked the President to accompany
him as an evidence of his approval of
physical exercise, upon which subject
General Bell was 10 deliver. lecture at
the college for the benefit of the officers
and members Of the general staff who
were present in the role of students. The
officers of the staff aud the students and
faculty of the War College were waiting
In the lecture room when the President
entered. In a little speech he assured
them that he was greatly interested in the
subject of Gen. Bells lecture; that no
officer could hope to reach the requisite
efficiency in the service unless he was
physically fit for his work. The Presi-
dent said that he would not call physical
condition the first and greatest qualifi.
cation. IAN officer should be able to
stand himself" he said, whatever he
expected his men to stand"
That the Chief of staff, Gen. Bell is in
good condition may be judged from the
fact that he entertained the officers for
nearly three hours with a lecture with
demonstrations. The President remained
for only an hour. General Bell talked
physical culture with the learning and
the authority of professor and during
the lecture took off his coat, necktie and
collar and demonstrated his theories ala
Muldoon. Gen. Bell, by the way, is a
post graduate Of Professor Muldoon's
White Plains school, mo matter who
you are, or how high in rank you may
be. - said the General, you obey orders
from Muldoon and ask mo- questions.
That is what did," When the General
had finished his lecture. it was nearly
dark but the officers wanted to know
some more aud he gave them further in
formation and illustration and answered
numerous questions.
The influence of the present admins.
tration on the Army and Navy have been
most remarkable and cannot but be
salutary. The country was in danger of
suffering from obese and superanunated
officers in the army aud the navy. The
Presidents example and his insistence on
exercise on horseback and on foot for
army officers will haveits beneficial effect
on the health and efficiency of the force
and this WILL be Of inestimable value in
time of war.