Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-26
PRESIDENT SAYS
! HIS WORK IS DONE
NEW LIGHT SHED ON Mr.. RC.;
vELT's THOUGHTS AND
PLANS.
ANXIOUS TO QUIT COUNTRY
WHEN HIS SUCCESSOR TAKES
HIS PLACE.
DESIRES THAT HIS ATTITUDE
MAY NOT BE CUES
TONED.

New York. Aug. 2O.-Beleiying that
he has completed the task he set out
to accomplish as chief executive Of
this nation President Roosevelt,
weary from his labors, is preparing to
quit public life.
This is the impression conveyed IN
letter written by a man who re
Gently visited the president at his
home. The missiye. giving new
light on Mr.. Roosevelt's thoughts and
plans, now that he is about through
with his term in the white house, viii
be printed IN part in the forthcoming
American Magazine. The name OF
the writer is not given, but from the
manner in which ne quotes the Pres!-
dent it is apparent that they are on
terms OF close friendship.
The glimpse OF the Roosevelt mind
is Illuminating and gives fresh and
engaging picture OF the president
We didn't get TO discussion OF his
plans until very late-nearly mid
night, runs the letter. For the FIRST
time IN my experience of meeting man
he seemed tired He said several
times: z
"Well, I'm through now I've done
my york"
His chief idea seemed to be that
he wanted to get away-out Of the
country
Il want to get away SO that when
the new administration comes in my
, opinion will not be asked. nor my aa-
vice sought. If | talk, people will say
that am interfering where have no
right to interfere. Ii | refuse to talk,
they will say that my silence is disap-
prevail The best thing can do is to
go entirely away for year or more
out of reach of everything mere; and
that is what I'm going to do"
He said it was the last thing ne
would care to do; to repeat Grant ,
adventure. He had had enough OF
public affairs; he wanted to be alone
and quiet.
He said he would like to meet Wll-
liam of Germany if he could do it man
to man, but he could not think OF
attempting the ceremonies incidental
to formal meeting. The thing tnat
attracted him most in Europe was tna
invitations of the king of Italy and tue
emperor of Austria to go hunting with
them. He said he would like 70 see
how they did it in the old countries Or
Europe, but ne felt that he could mo-.
do this without attracting too much
attention.
He had concluded, therefore, to 81
to the Wilds of Africa, thing he had
really lops wanted to do, and to hunt
big game. He would sail as soon af-
ter March 4 as possible, going from
here to Italy, there transshipping for
the Suez and Italian east Africa.
Here he would take the railroad which
runs inland and jump from the end OF
it into the wilderness.
His son Kermit will go with him.
and, as 1 gathered, no one else, save
VEAudpS Il SCNASNAl AA0 0eAA0 ~
looking forward to the recreation OF
the voyage and to getting acquainted
with his son.
+''All that country beyond Italy
he said, will be new to us both, and 1
look for great pleasure in seeing it
with boys eyes. Kermit will have
his book of poetry and I'll have my
hunting books We shall have great
time"
Il have never seen him in a mol
human mood; nor have | ever been
more impressed with his bigness ana
breadth Once when he said Well,
I'm through suggested that the peo-
pie might not be through with him,
that four years hence they might be
clamoring for him more insistently
than they are today.
mo, he said, with a curious final
ity, a sort of sadness, a note which
never before heard him strike, revol-
utions don't go backward, New is
sues are coming up. see them. Peo'
pie are going to discuss economic
questions more and more: the tariff
currency, banks They are hard ques
tions, and l am not deeply interested
in them; my problems are moral prom
lens and my teaching has been pla. =
morality"
"He is certainly a very extraordin
airy character-about the greatest o.
our time He has the curious fashes
of genius. in which he sees himself
truly-more truly than anyone elst
does. And I believe more than eve
before that he put aside a third-tern
nomiDation. which ne could have hal
al the turn of his hand, from the hign
est conception of his moral obliga
tions"