The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-02

the past eight years.
WASHINGTON, April although
the Taft administration is not yet a
month old, it's striking contrasts to the
Roosevelt regime are already sticking
out like burrs on a chestnut
In. everything that President Taft
dose, whether in the line of work or
brain or exercise of body, he is the
absolute antithesis of the man who is
now on the high seas bound for the
Dark Continent. The very trip Mr..
Roosevelt is taking is typical of the
differences between the two men. Not
by the widest stretch of the magma
ton could anyone conceive of Presi-
dent Taft forsaking the comforts of
civilization for an invasion of the At
rican jungle. Moreover, it is doubtful
if Mr.. Taft ever killed living crea-
ture knowingly; certainly he has not
hunted for many years, and if he in
dulged in squirrel shooting or mus.Srat
trapping in his younger days, his eld'-
est friends have forgotten the fact.
The Roosevelt household gods were
scarcely out of the White House be-
fore the attaches of the establishment
realized that the old home isn't like
it used to be- The blue coated po-
lice officers at the front door of the
mansion disappeared and two tall,
chocolate colored negro buffers with
white shirt bosoms and grey vests took
their places. The white men at the
door of the secretary to the president
also vanished to make way for col
ored man. The stable housing the
jumpers, PAGERS, and gallopers pro-
vided for President ROosevelts use
was transformed into a garage, and
two magnificent automobiles replaced
the carriages that had conveyed the
White House family from place to
place about the capital. President
Roosevelt never acquired a liking for
devil wagons; President Taft fell in
love with them on the first whirl.
From the first day of the administra-
ton the manner of handling visitors
at the White House underwent a
change. The strenuous gave way to
thu peaceful Roosevelt shot his hand
minute Taft, when rushed, disposes
of 20 or %. To hurry his business
visitors out, Roosevelt would invite
half a dozen senators or congressman
into his office and, In loud tone OF
voice, would discuss the matter Of APP
pointing this or that man to this or
that job. The statesmen who had ex-
pected to buttonhole the president in
a corner and pull off something On the
quiet" were glad to get through the
in jiffy, for every other
man in the room was sure to go ont
and tell about it. This expedited
things wonderfully, but it hurt the dig
nifty of the lawmakers. That's one rea-
son why so many senators and repre-
sentatives carried paving blocks in
their pockets for Mr. Roosevelt.
When President Taft makes an en-
gagement to meet a senator or a con-
gresham or any other person, he gives
him the time that his business seems
to justify, and he does not invite
a crowd in to participate in the con-
ference Neither does he jump up from
his seat, as President Roosevelt fire.
quently did, before the caller had more
than half finished explaining his mis-
sion and exclaim cordially, I'm so
glad that you called; be sure and come
and see me again." The Roosevelt
hand would be outstretched, as he
spoke the words, and the visitor would
find his shoes on the mat outside the
door before he was able to repeat his
own name.