The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-08-11
COL. ROOSEVELT
A S0CiALOGIST
Walks Home With Grimy Miners,
Asks Many Questions, Plays
With Kittens, Shakes Hands
With Spanish War Comrade
and Does Other Stunts.

SCRANTON, A--Special.-Colonel
ROOSEVELT has turned sociologist. He
mas torsaken the field OF politics for
the time being, and Is now a social
worker. He came into the heart OF
the anthracite coal regions OF Gen.
tsaI pennsylvania yesterday to see how
the miners live and what they do.
me colonel. with all OF his cherac-. :
terlsuc vtgor and energy, spent ten
hours visiting the homes OF the work.
ers, inspecting the mines themselves,
ana taking a look into the conditions
OF the young women who are emu
PIoyeo In the silk mills near here. He
mao perfectly bully time. The mys-
solved.
Goes to Study Conditions.
Inc colonel admitted that on his
way across the Atlantic six weeks ago
ne was attracted by an article in a
magazine describing the folks who
live in these neglected narts IL
thought that something ought to he
zone Tor the unfortunates who have
no means OF real legitimate amuse-
Sn1 wnen they emerge from the
uark recesseS Of the mines or the
stulIy SILK mills. He decided TO come
In and see for himself.
CORONER Roosevelt has done mana
thlngs. He has shot wild game. pIav.
81 PoIlelcs, tennis and so many other
pastimes, but, despite the hand r.
mad In settling the dispute of the coal
MINERS ne never, until yesterday. saw
at close range how they do IL. He
Travelled through the Lackawanna
valley IN an automobile, whizzinR
over dirty hot roads: had lunch in
dairy establishment, where there
WASH enough glasses TO go around
and met the men, who whooped n mn
TOT l. r. until the colonel beamed
and beamed.
The identity of the former Presi.
dent was unknown for a good nart
OF the trip. Rough and hearty work-
ers, covered with SCOT. crashed his
hand and told him that he was the
goods. He liked that. too Co1onaI
Roosevelt declared that his idea a.
coming up here was merely to insnect
and nothing else. He said that anv
conclusions to be drawn from this hv-
ing visit will be drawn by him. He
expects to strike on several other
occasions and wants time TO digest
what he consumes
Talks I'm Local Man.
Inc hrst person of the real pic
turesque type that the contributing
editor encountered was Jake Kava
naugh. a miner. Kavanaugh was &C
turning to his cottage from the mines
lie was grimy and dirty. on his head
was the miners cap and lamp. His
ooots made walking cumbersome. He.
CO.. ms Glnner kit in a slot held
1aSt by thick leather belt. The.
colonel hailed him and began 70 tall
IN about two minutes Colonel
roosevelt and Mr.. Kavanaugh were
hastenlng TO the miners house. A
quarter of a mile AWAY Tbev 49,
alone, and the colonel was bombsrdo
ing his new friend with all sorts of
questlons- He stepped onto the front
porch and Colonel Roosevelt nIaved
Win TWO little kittens while Kava-
hauSn told his wife to cut out the dish
washing and be sociable. Jalre ba,7i
ever mad not the slightest idea mar
ms guest was the former President 90
the United States.
WIN the Cavanaughs the colonial
1alkeu ABOUT social conditions in njcl~
son City. The miner volunteerad IN,
information that there were no
amusements calculated to entertain
lhe young folks, and he thought II
was 1lSsracetui- The colonel remarks :
Su that dance halls connected with
the saloons are bad things for vouns~
omen. lie said that the young folks
ouehI 10 nave a place where they can
udhce. lie remained with the Kava- =
ndushs Tor half an hour. told them
VINO he was, and went away leaving
them habergasted
Recognizes Roosevelt.
r, ia was just exactly what Colonel
ROOSEVELT was looking for. He walk
ed down a gentle slope and t,,rned
into Main Street again. old Iobr-
FRESHMAN glanced up from his peru
sal OF last weeks paper. IietawisI[a'e
hhoteI was empty. The Palace had
p peer closed. Nobody hung around
CURED John FRESHMAN, huskily. "Bv
George, it's Theodore Roosevelt I've
seen his picture"
Pressman hobbled into the house
20 arouse the family, but he was too
late, for the colonel had entered tbo.
home of Mrs. Rowana Elv ana was
Ieep in discussion by the time
: FRESHMAN returned to the porch The
EIys used their own property in Dick
son CITY II they hadn't been foolish
~ inSIr investments they might be
wealthy today. But Charles Ely is
1ead, and his stepson, who is Row
ana support. isn't very spry. His
name is William Sears.
CoIonel Roosevelt was introduced
10 Mrs. Ely as Mr.. Roosevelt. of New
York. Vi NC"
The name meant nothing to her.
sears laughed scornfully when it was
why, he wouldn't come to see no such
DeopIe as US exclaimed Sears. Not
his d-n store for near forty Years
low we pay $40 a month, and there's
racks in the wall big enough to throw
Roosevelt TO come here"
Whereat he sold a Lottie Lee per-
ecto and went back into the house TO
scan his guest.
Crowd soon Gathers.
a rumor that the contributing editor
ne actual Roosevelt, the mainthing
lad come to their midst graduaIiX
spread about the town. Women who
lad been washing clothes in the vard
stopped long enough to inquire. The
<lds carried the report. a crowd gath
req IN front or Ely's candy store
The colonel, after a long chat with
Mrs. Ely, emerged from the house. He
Dared with delight when he saw the
understood mob. He gave a nickel esnb
o three Youngsters. He told them 40
'uy candy, but they flew into the store
ma purchased brilliantly colored mic
ures of Mr.. Johnson beating mn a Mr.
.eurles. That tickled the colonel, who
Ids Wonderful sense OF humor
Everybody was introduced by event
BODY else in Ely's store. There was no
ormaIity, no signs of awe Souire
dlchael Popck, who has for years been
burgess Of Dickson City, cIasped
IN veteran of the Spanish War.
he said: Il was with the First Volnn Z
cells of Delaware" '0iuH-
ny George comrade.' came the COL
meet YOU" Si"N ~