Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-16
.BOTH WHAcKEp THE DESK
Assemblyman Roosevelt and Cow
erHOr Cleveland in - Talkfest
Many Years Ago.

In series OF "reminiscences by an 'oid
Political Reporter in the Brooklyn Eagle
is the following story Of the relations OF
Theodore Roosevelt. assemblyman with
Grover Cleveland over a quarter OF a CEN
fury ago;
Recently 1 have read as the conclusion
Of writer visibly affected by the revealed
greatness OF Mr. Roosevelt that Roosevelt
exercised a commanding Influence over
Cleveland during the two years the latter
was governor. Nothing could be further
from the truth. In their intellectual con-
situations and their mental habits and pro-
cesses they were Numerically opposite
Cleveland arrived at his conclusions
through laborious thought; there was moth
ing ihspirational about him. The natural
tendencies OF his mind were confirmed into
habit by the practice Of the law. Roosevelt,
in those years, at least. seemed to be wholly
inspirational. His mental processes were so
rapid that he apparently reached conclu-
sions instantaneously and he seemed to be
surprised when his opinions were not taken
at his own valuation of them. Indeed, In
being opposed he seemed to take as per-
sOnal grievance the necessity of offering
argument in support Of his determinations.
Roosevelt was frequent caller on the
governor, but not more so than other mem
bers of his party in the assembly. To Cleve-
land Roosevelt was a perplexity. The gov
ernor liked the assemblyman personally,
but the latter's peculiar mental attitude
bothered the executive Tho governor would
sit large, solid and phlegmatic, listening
gravely to the energetic utterances OF the
mercurial young man, but signifying neither
assent nor dissent Not infrequently. taxi
ing silence for acquiescence, Roosevelt
would so away thinking that he had car
ried everything before him.
zone day while standing at the private
seoretary's desk with Lamont, watching
the two at the executive desk, the latter
said. / never see those two together that
I'm not reminded of a picture have OF a
great mastiff solemnly regarding a small
terriar, swapping and barking at him.
One day I asked the governor his opinion
Of Roosevelt: There is great sense in a
lot that he says, but there is such a cock
suredness about him that he stirs up doubt
in me all the time Turning to Lamont,
he asked: Dan, what was that you quoted
to me that some one said of Macauiay, that
he wished he was as sure of one thing as
Macaulay was of all things? Yes?' Then
to me: That fits Roosevelt. Then he
seems to be so very young
Il
number of bills relating to the city and
county of New York, some of them re-
ducing fee offices to salaried offices, He
passed them with great effort and against
serious opposition,
zone day after the legislature had ad.
journed and Roosevelt was in attendance
on the republican convention at Chicago
that nominated Blaine, the governor, al
work on the thirty-day bills as the passed
measures left Enacted upon by the execu
tive on adjournment were called, In pursu
ance OF his habit to talk out what wal
on his mind to any one in whom ne had tn,
slightest degree of confidence, said to th'
Old Political Reporter: i shall have u
veto most OF those Roosevelt reform bills
Not that object to the principles involved
but the bills are so loosely drawn that the1
will be as laws ineffective and give endless
trouble
"A day or two later. while walking dowI
| State street in Albany, 1 met Roosevelt
/ who was on his way home from Chicago
j and who had stopped off at Albany TO lool
after his legislation. He Immediately asket
1 what the governor had done with his bills
/ replied that as.yet the governor had don
nothing, but. that thought that he in
tended to veto some of them. Without seek
ling to know why. Roosevelt exclaimed:
g He mustn't do that. He mustn't do that
can't have that. won't let him do II
Ill go up and see him at once
He fairly flew up the hill. Having Il
! my mind that old stock problem as to wha
would be the result of an irresistible fore
meeting an immovable body and perceivin
some fun ahead, followed after into tn
executive chamber.
4
Roosevelt's asking what the governor pro
posed to do about his bills.
Mr.. Roosevelt replied the governor,
must veto them. While I'm not opposed I
the principles involved the bills are 8
loosely drawn that if they were made law
the city and county of New York woul
be plunged into prolonged and expensiv
litigation
Roosevelt brIstled up Immediately an
after stating that the main thing was tn
establishment OF the principle and CON
batting the idea that litigation must folio,
he went into forecful argument, In whic
he used the most vigorous language pound
tng the desk for emphasis. Finally he cor
5 cluded with these words
You must not veto those bills. Yo
cannot You shall not. can't have 1t, an
won't have it.
Z" Mr.. Roosevelt, said the governor. si
ting up very straight in mis- chair, L Al
song To veto those bills
|, And his fist came down on the desk wit
q solid whack.
The irresistible force had been smashe
on the immovable body!
Roosevelt fell back in his chair, declai
, ing 1t was an outrage to overturn year
5 work in that way. Lamont went to II
! window and looked out on the green
an endeavor to get rid OF the broad smi
/ that was plastered on his face.
with hard and stubborn front CleveIau
turned 70 his work and the interview wa
over. The bills were vetoed"