The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-18
Roosevelt's Ability to Adapt
Himself to all Conditions
Has Won Him More Friends
Than Enemies.
FRIENDLY TO GOMPERS
INSTEAD OF HOSTILE
Completely Oisarmed the La
Dor Chief With Usual Tao.
tics Shows Warmth to
Foraker and Hartman.
~ Guy W. Finney.

Washington. Jan. lS-ThcodOeo
Roosevelt in his seven odd years of
ups and downs as president Of the
United States has earned a reputation
as ''many-sided man" equal to that
of Benjamin Franklin. Certainly In
this respect the president Is the most
striking prototype of the evolutionary
sratesman-philsophe In public life to-
day. Amid the stirring events OF the
last two or three years. when the big
stick" has been frequently employed
to deal sturdy blows here and there
regardless Of persons or politics. the
chief executives ability to adapt him.
self to and all conditions has been dis
played In noteworthy style 1t Is a
quality that has won him more friends
than enemies. which would make him
seem well worthy of emulation by his
able successor.
The compers Incident.
Take. for instance, the presideut'a
reception of Samuel Gompers at the
White House. True 1t Is incumbent
upon any chief executive to make =
show Of c0rdiality to friends and en-.
emies alike. but who other than Theo.
dore Roosevelt would receive ON terms
Of easy. disarming friendltness % im-
placable foe as the president of tho
Esr,Ao ~ 4 oh
shown himself to be? One has only
to refer to certain passages. violent.
indicative. ear-splitting. news-making
between this distinguished pair dur
ing the November presidential cam
paign to reason properly that they
should staQd today as bitter. unfor-
giving. warning enemies. Not 30 with
Mr.. Roosevelt. Tales coming from
the white house apropos that recent
memorable meeting between Mr..
Roosevelt. Mr.. Gompers and his fellow
labor leaders tell of something ap-
preaching love feast"
Labor Chief Under Spell.
Mr. Gompers. whether his heart
Was in his mouth or whether IL pul.
stated normally from behind its accus-
toned rib. forgot either anger or fear
when he crossed the presidential
| threshold and came within the spell oe
the Rooseveltian smile Instead of
greeting q lurking enemy, ne found Q
brother; yes, a smiling. beamiug
brother. there with warm handclasp
and ready to let bygones be bysones.
There was no knife-behind-t the-back-
| truce about this meeting: nor could it
be called reconciliation" Just .
sweet. nerve-soothing meeting az u
between old friends. and a spirit of
comaraderie hung In the atmosphere
that even Secretary Loeb Jr. exuded.
Friendly TO Foraker.
Same way with Senator Foraker
and Mr.. Hartman. II they only cared
to experiment with this side OF the
presidents character. EveiS body who
has read of the distinguished Ohioan's
noisy. demonstrative defense Of the
black soldiers who shot up. Browns
vile. Tex. his defiance of the big
Stick" and his declarations against
and denunciations Of the executives
| unconstitutional usurpation Of pow.
er," has naturally assumed. when Mr..
Roosevelt called his favorite weapon
OF offense and defense. the much
heralded big stick" into play. that
he bore his senatorial opponent the
most intense hatred possible. Not SO
with Mr. Roosevelt. For those scars
Of political warfare he has inflicted O.
the Ohioan. admittedly done with ma
! 1ico and afOvethom1ht ~ vvno~x >,o~w
body believes. the president stands ev-
eryready to administer a soothing
balm. II Mr. Foraker would only visit
the white house
The same warm hand that greeted
Mr.. Gompers likewise would be ex-
tended to Senator Foraker. He would
find the big stick laid aside for the
time. reposing for want of action In
some dark corner Of the executive Of
fees Temporarily the inscription OF
that weapon would be missing from
the presidential coat-of-arms. and in
its place would be found something
symbolic Of peace and goodwill De.
spite their little differences Of opinioa
m to men and issues. Mr.. Roosevelt
| has always entertained. and frequent
~ expressed to newspaper men. .
sneaking udmlrafion for Mr.. For1ker's
fine poWefs. Though there are some
Who 6oabf Il. he thinks the Ohio
statesman.s abilities and his services
to the nation outweigh his lap6l2
Yes. frankly. X the senator weat 70
the White House today he would -
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