The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-03-05
Y TO THE PLAIN
PEOPLE-ONE WHO
COULD LOVE.
Full of Business, But Could
Always See the Side
of Humor.
sv gibson

bN GtLSON 0ANbNEN.
WASHINGTON. D. C., March 8,
There is a genial and n humorous
side TO Roosevelt which must not
be omitted from the records Much
has been told OF his REgrrsslyenesa,
much OF hts savage fighting quali
ties, a great deal Of his serious &C
tlviues-bodlly aud mental. Less IL
known. perhaps. OF the man who
l~aughs-who tells OF ICES a Joke.
And yet Roosevelt has that side
trust l mas be pardoned II relate
n matter OF some intimacy. just TO
Illustrate.
"The Shaving Hour"
I was seeing the president by APP
pointment AZ the famous shaving
hour. AS Is we'll known this oc-
CURED between the morning rush Of
work and the hour for lunch. In
The little room between the office of
the PRECEDENT aud that Of his sec
Rotary wa a big leather chair ordi
narily used for wAiting visitors. this
was converted into tonseriai
throne between 1890 and al 80, and
the skiiiful Laney did the trick. In
the economy OF time the hour waa
used for appointments OF the less
formal character.
On this particular day the windnp
Of the conference was ~eniiyencd BY
the arrival of Secretary Taft.
Il have been trying 20 discover.
I said 20 Mr.. Taft. whether the
president Intends 70 take part IN
the presidential campaign Of 1905
Up TO this time no iutimaiion had
been given 10 the important things
which subsequently happened.
Taft sits Up.
Secretary Taft sat mp. and there
was an interested twinkle Ia his
eye.
-As 70 that" the president ~
plied, Il can only say that I hope 20
zee some good man win. To that
end, on COURSE. | shall do my part.
And I was wondering - TO
whether there might BE- any ideas
In your mind as 10 who that good
man is9- l said.
Il am for some good man" the
president went on. ANY coed man,
who fills the requirements OF the
place. The field Is opea
was listening with both ears.
ANY man will be suitable TO me-,
providing oniy-well. providing that
he be q man Of substantial weight
sAy zoe pounds: that he be a gradn.
ate Of Yafs-say OF the class Of Is:
that he be exnerieueed In pnblie life
cay. as civil governor Of the Phil
ipplnss. that he be Of judicial ten
permanent and trainiug-as II he had
been a Judge OF one % our federal
circuit courts. that he be trained IN
administering our great Panama
canal. that he have had experiences
as secretary Of war. and. IN his re-
ngions views that he be a Unitarian
ANY man suits me, 80 that he
meet requirements Of this kind
Never Cracked a Smile.
II was droll. The president never
cracked a smile. The secretary sat
and chuckied. and | had a tip 81
some. considerable importance.
In the writings Of Roosevelt the
reader will seek IN vain for any.
thing not serious. And yet the
author does not take hts literary
activities with entire seriousness.
tie has a little joke on himself
Ia this connection. Il about
when visitors not as we'll versed
as they might be. hear some anec.
totes or incident which strikes
hem OF peculiar interest. and they
remark.
You ought to write that, Mr..
President. That really ought Ia
BE- preserved"
III u.s. the president responds.
you WIN find II in my books.
Solemn Results Amuse.
When solemn people and coca.
sions are Interrupted By events
not solemn. the results amuse.
Such an event was a cabinet
meeting 1T which Kermit Hoose-
welt entered with a king snake
and several snakes Of other sorts
crawling from his sleeves. Atty
Gen. Bonaparte left his chair with
more haste than dignity, and 9th
or members OF the cabinet ex.
tfrNMFA hNFA NrfNbAH
The president tried 10 keep a sol
smn face on this occasion. but
hardly with success.
Roosevelt was not always talking
shop" He loved a joke and crayed
to be amused. He is quick 10 see
and keen 20 take the point. Some.
times his conversation runs 10 anec-
dote. and he tells his story 10 illus
trate his point Such at times are
drawn from that vigorous life when
he was a rancher In the west. ] re
call one time when he was discuss.
Ing the opposition 20 his plan 10
send the fleet around the world.
Teddy Springs One.
Cor said he. "WIll they go?
That reminds me Of an incident az
an election held In a very ANAL 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
be permitted 70 cast a ballot Dur.
ing most Of the day the order went.
But there was u man more daring
than the rest and he stepped up and