Connecticut western news., 1910-06-23
FOUR YEARS?.
pinChOt and Garfield EIdted When Promise to Aid Re-
 forms Is Made.

nRS that rose uer on uer on mannaC- 'en Island and the Jersey shore.
 Colonel Roosevelt stood alone on the bridge as the parading boats swept by. He was visibly affected, as was everyone aboard the vessel. Even a cynical newspaper man who had criti- cised his every attitude as a pose was silenced. There was no pose in the emotion visibly written on the home coming travellers face. I confess that my own eyes were not in the best condition to observe at that particular moment, but I am sure there was a mist in the optics of the lone figure aloft as there were in those of many and were not ashamed.
 Neighbors In Abundance.
 The boat of the Roosevelt neighbors was banked on every deck and on every roof. I think if there had been another human being on that craft he would have fallen overheard from sheer physical necessity. And every man, woman and child was cheering. If anybody was left in Oyster Bay the looks of that boat were deceiving. So close did it come that there seemed danger of collision. A moment later the Androscoggin was pumping against the Battery pier and the band was playing Home, Sweet Home"
 To return to our cynical newspaper friend. He was sure that every re- mark with which the returned traveller greeted the committee as it filed past him was studied, that each movement was a conscious pose, and, while he did not say it, he plainly intimated that the former president was plan ming a return to the White House in 1912. Another scribe seemed to share these views.
 Perhaps 1t was half hour later that both men took note of a boat laden with human freight, with every hu- man atom making some sort of joyous noise. There were no silk hats or frock coats on this boat, but there was welcome written over every face welcome without any official tang or red tape-evidently iworkingmen and their families for the most part, the John Smiths and O'Donnells and La vinskys that go to make up the Amer ican people.
 The men of the pencil studied that boat, and one of them said musingly: 'There is the secret of Roosevelt. He has captured the heart of the common people"
 Thereupon I did little studying my self, and my musings ran in this wise: Why has he captured the heart of the people? Americans are not fools. They look below the surface. They had the discernment to see Lincoln when the leaders could not see him. Is not their confidence in Roosevelt proof that they think him sincere? Is 1t not because they believe he has fought their battles and will devote his life to fighting their battles in fu- ture that they welcome him as they have welcomed no other man living or dead?
 Was Pinchot Mouthpiece2
 Then I remembered Clifford Pin chot's speech at St. Paul, with its con- stantly reiterated demand that the spe- cial interests be driven out of politics, including grafters, trusts, bribers, franchise grabbers, privilege seekers all the brood of the thieves in the tenn pie!
 Where did Pinchot get his political ideas in this speech that was his first public utterance after his interview with Roosevelt in Italy? Was he only echoing the sentiments and intentions of his former chief? Why this long Roosevelt silence on political questions that has lasted all through the Euro beyond it? Is it not significant? The same forces against which he contend ed are still dominant in the country.
 The impression was heightened by the speech at the Battery. Here again I was fortunate and was near enough to hear him. Certainly this man tell ing of his debt to the American people and dedicating his life to the solution of the problems of free gov ernment meant what he said.
 If I can judge men, there was no note of self seeking in his tones. He does owe this to his country, as all the rest of us do, but he particularly, be- cause he has been more honored. May he not be an agent of good even as others have been? Certainly our need Is great, and has a nation ever asked in vain? His most sincere friends say he will not accept a third term. But may he not devote his life to what he considers the good of his country and of mankind without thought of place?
 My own impression is that, back of all his mannerisms, Roosevelt sincere ly desires to serve norular government. progress and righteousness; that he wants to drive the special interests out of politics; that he is not a candidate for the presidency, but feels himself obligated to serve his country in any proper way that it calls upon him; that he may break with President Taft, at least on conservation, and that there is a great political upheaval ahead in Ubinh ha will DIoV a mart and tO the