The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-03-06
BY Gibson Gardner.
specia, Correspondence to The Pres,

side to Roosevelt which, as he is
leaving the white house, must not
be omitted from the records. Much
has been told of his aggressive
ness: much of his savage fighting
qualities; a great deal Of his Sc
rious enthusiastically and men
tai. Less is known, perhaps, Of
the man who laughs-who tells OF
sees a joke.
: And yet Roosevelt has that side
] trust l may be pardoncd if | re
late a matter of some intimacy
just to illustrate.
| was seeing the president by APP
pointment at the famous shaving
hour" AS is well known this oc-
ours between the morning rush of
work and the hour for lunch. In
the little room between the Office
of the president and that of his
secretary Is a big leather chair. Or
dinarily used for waiting visitors,
this is concerted into a tonsorial
throne between 1890 and 1880, and
the skillful Laney does the trick.
In the economy of time the hour is
used for appointments of the less
formal character.
On this particular day. the wind
up of the conference was enlivened
by the arrival of Secretary Taft.
II have been trying to discover"
I said to Mr.. Taft, whether the
president intends to part part in
the presidential campaign of 1908"
Up to this time no intimation had
been given to the important things
which subsequently happened.
Secretary Taft sat up, and there
was was an interested twinkle in
his eye.
AS to that" the president re-
piled, Il can only say that | hope to
see some good man win. To that
end, of course, l shall do my part. "
"And | was wondering as to
whether there might be any ideas
in your mind as to who that good
man is?" l said.
II am for some good man." the
president went on. ANY good
man, who fills the requirements of
the place. The field is opeH"-
/ was listening with both ears.
ANY man will be suitable to me
providing only-well, providing
that he be a man of substantial
weight--say 200 pounds; that he
be a graduate of Yale-say Of the
class of rs; that he be experience
ed in public life-say as civil gov
ernor of the Philippines; that he
be Of judicial temperament and
Trainings if he had been a judge
ofone of our federal circuit courts I;
that he be trained in administering
our great Panama canal; that he
have had experience as secretary
of war, and, in his religious views
that he be a Unitarian-any man
suits me, so that he meet require
ments of this kind"
1t was droll. The president new
er cracked a smile. The secretary
sat and chuckled and / had tip
of some considerable importance.
In the writings of Roosevelt the
reader will seek in vain for any
thing not serious. And yet the au-
thor does not take his literary &C
tivities with entire seriousness. He
has little joke on himself in this
connection. 1t comes about when
visitors not as well versed as they
might be, hear some anecdotes OF
incident which strikes them of pc
culiar interest, and they remark
"You ought to write that, Mr.
President. That really ought to be
preserved"
1T u.s." the president responds
"You will find 1t in my books"
When solemn people and occa
sions are interrupted by events not
solemn, the results amuse. Such
an event was a cabinet meeting al
which Kermit Roosevelt entered
with king snake and several
snakes of other sorts crawling from
his sleeves. Attorney General DO
naparte left his chair with more
haste than dignity, and other mem,
bers of the cabinet expressed their
nervous disapproval. The presi
dent tried to keep a solemn face on
this occasion, but hardly with sue
cess.
Roosevelt is not always talking
shop" He loves a joke and Graves
to be amused. He is quick to see
and keen to take the point. Some
times his conversation runs to an.
ecdote. and he tells story to illus
Gate his point Such at times are
drawn from that vigorous life when
he was rancher in the west. ! re.
call one time when he was discuss
ing the opposition to his plan to
send the fleet around the world
"Go?" said he. "Will they go?"
That reminds me of an incident at
an election held in very small
and very rugged settlement In our
far west. The boss, who was also
the sheriff, had given orders that
no member of the opposing faction