The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-06
No REST FOR 7. R.
Spoke is Times Yesterday
in North Dakota.
POLITICS WAS TABOOfO
The Enthusiasm Over the Former
President is as Great in North
West as in Other Sections
He Has Visited.

ne mas lsltCus
Fargo. n. D.. Sept. 5.-Even on Sun
day the colonel cant keep quiet He
has tried and failed. He decided that
he would make no speeches from the
train. but he couldn't resist the crowds
that gathered at the stations along the
line Sunday, and before nightfail he
had spoken at least fifteen times
which is probably as much talking as
he has done on any one day in the
course OF the whole trip.
MIR. Roosevelt preached sermons
most of the day. At little towns that
bear names like those you see on
sleeping cars he faced substantial
crowds of folks wearing their black
clay suits and white organizes. The
village bands played hymns on their
weird sounding brass instruments.
Flags were waved.
Mr.. Roosevelt spent the night at
Fargo and was greeted by an immense
crowd at the depot and escorted TO a
hotel.
Same Enthusiasm.
There was the same enthusiasm
even on Sunday. that Mr.. Roosevelt
has discovered in the west. The sleep
ing car towns. such as Cottonwood
Norcross, Prlam, Colfax. Willmar and
Beeson. were very wide awake. The
towns of Minnesota with the front
names like Marshall, Joseph. Morris
Russell, Florence, Doran, Sherman
and Elizabeth, dumped their entire
populations as recorded in the last
census down to the station. Some
times the train just slowed up so as
to give them a glimpse and make the
lay pleasant for them, but as rule
he train ceased utterly and the colo
uel spoke
He discussed mostly moral topics.
He told his hearers TO be honest. to
becourageous, TO be good. to be kind
and to be patient and true. Politics
was taboOed.
1t was really not the coloneIs fault
that he spoke so frequently. How could
he help it if the engineer stopped the
train and the crowd yelled for him to
come out and speak.
In the thirteen days that Mr. Roose-
Welt has been on the road he has COW
cred more than $500 miles. He has
passed through fourteen states. He has
addressed thousands of persons who
have shown the fiendliest regard for
him; regard that stands for votes If
he wants them later on. Everywhere
one hears only the most favorable
comment. There has been no under
current of anti-Roosevelt sentiment
that has been observed by those who
have watched for 1t. Taft's name is
scarcely mentioned when the colonel
is around: and only has Mr.. Roosevelt
spoken of il and then by referring to
the president and not to Mr.. Taft.
No one has lost sight OF the fact
that Mr.. Roosevelt has been speaking
In the land Of the insurgents, where
the administration isn't in entire favor.
But II is more than a mere political
devotion that the west has for the
colonel 1t is a personal appreciation
and liking that seems now as If II
might easily be turned into a demand
for a third term in the White House.
Is Making a Campaign.
In one sense Mr. Roosevelt is max
ing a campaign. He is setting his
views before the public so that they
can digest them, IL they are able; and
on the other hand they must think
them over il they don't care to con
sumo them. Wild-eyed Kansas roared
with delight at his visit; Nebraska
was enthusiastic; South Dakota and
Seth Bullock did themselves proud;
Iowa and Ohio we're more than gener-
Gus. The news that some New Jersey
Republicans have already started a
boom for the colonel didn't bother him
when II was put to him. He said moth
ing and didn't look surprised.
At all the western cities where Mr..
Roosevelt tarries one finds dozens OF
little and big politicians swarming
like bees around him. They seek ad-
vice and they seek Office. That is what
makes II look as though the colonel is
being taken nightly seriously as a
candidate in 1912. Some Of the wise
ones who have tried to draw him out
on the mater of his break with the
president have failed utterly to get
satisfactory answers.
The last leg of the trip is at hand.
Visits to St Paul. Milwaukee. Chicago.
Cincinnati and Pittsburg will be of
deep importance. When the colonel
reaches the home of Mr. Taft he will
be watched closely in the hope that
he will commit himself; those who are
with him believe that he will steer
clear Of politics with studied inno-
cence.