The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-06-21
At THE SHARP CRACK Of
THE PRESIDENTS SALUTE
Americas First Citizen Returns to
His Native Country-By George!

parts of the country. Therefore il
was national.
True to His Word-No Politics.
The Colonel had positively declared
his intention by wireless the night be
fore: 4 shall have nothing whatever
to say in the Immediate future abou'
politics" and he kept his word.
Therefore, there was nothing in the
only speech he made here today that
could be construed as applying specifi-
cally to this or that immediate State
Of national issues. That he will be
importuned to take a hand in the
New York campaign this fall is a
foregOne conclusion, but by his own
declaration he will not commit himself
to a.9y expression of opinion untiI he
has acquainted himself at first hand,
of just o the political land shapes
itself.
The sharp crack of the familiar
presidential salute Mr..
Roosevelt at Z o'clock this morning as
his ship. the Kaiserin Auguste Vic
tOria drew into the harbor. From
the mists of early morning emerged
first the drab hull of the battleship
South Carolina. two lean, swift de-
stroyers and two torpedo boats behind
her. Then spoke the guns. Blue clad
sailors lined the decks, in close prox-
unity while massed on the quarter
deck of the South Carolina stood the
marine band. a solid splash of scarlet
coats. pounding out the Star Spangled
amer
On the Bridge.
It did not take the Colonel long to
get on the bridge, dressed for the for
malities Of the day in a frOck coat
and a top hat. For a moment. he
stood bareheaded and waves to the
men in silent answer to their cheers.
Then the sight of the South Carolina
touched a heart-string.
BY George! That's one of my
ships he exclaimed. Doesn't she
ock good? 1 built her and those
d~estroyers. too"
In the excitement and suspense of
waiting for the time when the return
ing marine parade should bring the
Colonel to his appointed landing point
at the Battery, there were many lit
tie Incidents that showed the temper
of the crowd One stevedore unload
ing a ship laid down his hook to
watch and wait.
Hi" out the foreman; you
come back here or I'll dock you an
houri"
Dock me a week" shouted back
the recalcitrant; I'm going to have a
look at Teddy"
Another water front sight-seer,
"IiStllcI oOA vi ItiSJuuScu IuI1lOi OT
IN true ignorance. capped a long tale
of wonders by asking naively Of the
narrator: Who is this Roosevelt,
anyhow"
The next thing he knew he was in
the river, propelled by indignant
hands. A policeman flshed him out
and an ambulance carried him to a
hospital.
Man Of the Hour Energies.
Finally. the Marine parade over,
the man Of the hour emerged from
the shadows Of the dock house. His
cutter. the Androscoggin, was hidden
from sight by the dock house roof
and walls, and the crowd, in ignor-
ance or just what was going on, wait
ed ia tense and almost tremulous
silence.
The speakers stand. the private
committee and the press stand, were
all placed on a little plot Of green
turf, directly facing the pier at which
Colonel Roosevelt landed.
Once on the speaking stand, the
gravity dropped from Roosevelt's face
like a falling curkin. He grinned a
true Roosevelt grin and waved IA
miliarly to this and that friend.
Clifford Pinchot was one Of the first
to catch his eye.
Glad to see you, glad to see you,
indeed" shouted his old chief.
Facing the stand was the box oc-
cupfed by Mr.. Roosevelt's family.
Facing Great Field of Faces.
Turn around father, and look at
the crowd cried Mrs. Longworth.
Col Roosevelt turned. There
faced him a ield Of faces as broad as
the prairies he loves. Lines of police
hid the bodies, and over the gray
helmets Of the blue oats was visible
nothing but one vast expanse Of hui
man countenances, all upturned to
him, all waiting for him.
Roosevelt flushed a dark red be-
meath his tan, white, even as he turn
ed a spontaneous shout of e%xultation
that left him for a reflective
burst from the waiting thousands.
Then he discovered the newspaper
men in the press stand.
I'm overwhelmed with pleasure to
meet you all here, gentlemen" he ex-
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