The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-27

even the colonel himself by their gen
uipe enthusiasm and interest In what
he had to say.
They listened to advice and they
heard the colonel warm up into his
old.time form and bang away against
dishonest corporations and dishonest
men. He threatened to break the best
business in the land If it is not honest
He said he will make the corporations
come to time, although he promised
to eschew politics until he should be
gin his set speeches upon leaving
Cheyenne.
Swats Governor Harmon.
Mr.. Roosevelt could not resist the
temptation to deliver a backhanded
swat at Governor Harmon. of Ohio.
The colonel aroused great crowd in
the Union Station at Cleveland by his
reference TO the car strikes at Co
lumbus a few weeks ago, when the
mob de6ed the police and cut loose
from the law He intimated that Gov
ernor Harmon didn't do his duty He
deplored the incident as an affront to
decency and he declared that the pub
lie official who fails to Quell the mob
is as much Of a criminal as the cor
rupt member of a corporation. which
is the limit.
Mr.. Roosevelt clenched his fist
pounded the air and clincked his jaws
as he told folks in the various states
what he will do whenever he has
power. He said he will keep order
and insist on justice from the rich
man. A good many persons got the
impression that T. r. spoke as though
he were going to have power In the
future. for he used that tense most
all the time.
The colonel hasn't got far enough
on his trip yet to allow an accurate
estimation OF his popularity In the
west. or course the crowds yelled and
rooted for Teddy" and said nice
things to the colonels face, but they
didn't go wild. AS the train would
draw from the various stations you
could catch faint booms for "our next
president" but nothing stronger of
that nature was forthcoming. Still the
colonel liked it. They like him. And
he continued to hammer away at the
corporations and the mobs.
Everywhere there were incidents
typical OF a Roosevelt tour. When the
colonel spotted a baby in the crowd
he would stop right in the middle OF
his speech TO pass a kind word to a
couple OF fond parents. The effect on
the crowd was just what he desired.
This happened at Toledo.
From the early dawn when Mr..
Roosevelt rubbed his eyes and found
himself standing before formal ban
quet in the Ellicott club, in Buffalo.
until late at night. in Chicago. there
was something doing every minute.
Politicians swarmed to the Republic.
his private car-politicians mostly OF
minor Importance. who were seeking
endorsements for themselves or their
constituents.
Nearly HlOt IN OIeNcidnos
The first real pounding Of the day
came at Cleveland. AS the special
Numbered into the Union Station at
Cleveland the colonel spied several
thousand men and women damned
against an iron rail that separated
them from the railroad yard. The
platforms were full Reserves pressed
back the crowd. but they all wanted
to see T. R., and see him they would.
It looked like a small sized riot for a
time. Mr.. Roosevelt discovered at
once that If he wanted to talk to the
bulk OF the audience, in the huge
block, he would have to hop the fence
and get close to the common people. |
He called for the police, and they lit
orally injected him into the solid pha'
lanx.
This is great" he shouted as soon
as he got settled. you see 1t Is the |
first chance have had since came |
out west TO see the heart of the Amer |
ican people
1.-The first thing that always strikes
me, wherever | go through America, is
that fundamentally, We are all the
same people; wherever I go find the
average American about the same fell
low, east or west, north or south. The
average American is a pretty good
fellow, but his wife is still better
fellow"
And everybody cheered and laughed,
especially the ladies, bless 'em. Mr.
Roosevelt said that he had returned
to the United States because the lion
in Africa had failed to do their duty. |
His purpose, he said, is to make con-
ditions in this country little fairer
and little more equitable than they
had been. There are two things to
remember" continued the colonel. In
the first place always insist upon alb
solute honesty and in the second place
insist upon obedience of the law.
Nov l stand for the poor man. and
until he does something that is wrong. |
will not stand for any man If he is |
wrong, rich or poor. II the rich man
strives to use his wealth TO destroy
others, | will cinch him II can"
The crowd screamed with delight
as Mr. Roosevelt waved for silence.
wait" he roared. Wait and see If
you'll cheer the other side. If the poor
man is crooked or commits violence
I will stand behind the forces OF order
every time.
These are the articles OF my creed:
a square deal for every man. justice
for every man, rich or poor II there
is disorder all reforms must stop until
L.