New-York tribune., 1910-09-02

him and fair treat tment to those with
whom he does his business. l ask that
the big business man be fair to his en-
ployes and fair to the people. If he is
that. will do all 1 can to help him. If
he isn't I will do my best to see that
he is"
Guest Of Commercial Club.
After a long drive through the princi-
pal streets of the city. which Immediate
ly followed his arrival about noon. and
during the whole course of which the
former President was enthusiastically
cheered. Mr.. Roosevelt was the guest of
the Kansas City Commercial Club at
finely appointed luncheon of some three
hundred covers Before entering the
were presented to Mr.. Roosevelt by
President Bland, and as he entered the
dining room the guests arose and gave
him a rousing cheer.
Just a. they were seated, Judge Bland
announced that, in accordance with the
custom of the club, the first toast would
be drunk to the President of the United
States, and accordingly all arose again
and drank their cocktails to President
Taft, Mr.. Roosevelt with the rest
In the course of the luncheon one Of
the correspondents travelling with Mr..
Roosevelt composed rhyme, which was
sung vociferously to the accompaniment
of the band and to the air of Has Any
body Here Seen Kelly?" The lines were
as follows:
Has anybody here seen Teddy?.
T E-double- D-Y; has anybody here seen
Teddy?
Teddy from Oyster Bay.
His head is clear and his heart is true,
He's an insurgent through and through.
Has anybody here seen Teddy?
Teddy, he's on his way.
The singing of this parody met with
instant success, and several encores were
called for, Mr.. Roosevelt beating time
| with his hands and appearing greatly to
enjoy the performance.
Emboldened by the success of the first
| attempt to entertain the diners, another
newspaper man, a local man this time,
essayed another, which was sung with
equal zest. Sung to the air of ''The
Good Old Summertime" 1t ran as fol-
| lows:
| At next election time,
| At next election time,
Riding round the Woolly West. getting
things in line:
For like him and he likes US,
| And that's very good sign.
| That he Will be our President at next cleo
ton time
Song Greeted with Enthusiasm.
The song was greeted with the utmost
| Nv h.
mer President never gave the slightest
| indication that he understood the pur-
port of the words, and resumed his con-
versation the instant it was finished:
nor did he give any further sign when
the parody was repeated, on the demand
| of the members of the club, although
| each time they cheered vociferously
Seated at the speakers table with the
former President were Representa-
tive Cowherd Governor Stubbs of Kan
sas, Clifford Pinchot. ex-Secretary Gar
| field, Governor Hadley of Missouri SEN
ator Brstow and others. all of whom
| seemed to enjoy the singing even better
| than the former President
, When the cigars were lit Mr.. Cow
|
| the foremost citizen of the world"
| Mr.. Roosevelt took occasion immedi-
ately to refer to the first song, which he
| kindly said could not be improved in
rhyme, but which might be improved in
| the direction of technical accuracy had
! he been described as "a Progressive
! through and through" He was pleased
! he ga
| to his whereabouts
Turning then to more serious sub
| jects, Mr.. Roosevelt congratulated Kan
sas City on it's work In improving IFS
waterway and establishing a line of
water transportation which would. he
| was convinced, act as a proper lever
with which to prevent exorbftant rail-
road rates The former President added .
When began as President the move
ment against rebates that were universe lIv
| demanded and given the practice was 81
general that the fact of giving them nd
ASKING 1or them had become a purely con
Ventional crime No one spoke of the civ
ing Of rebates a crime, and as tha,
practice was freely INDUCED in by the great
nit the crime, having the alternative n,
being ruined by their competitors II they
did not get them. The shippers demanded
|
granted rebates 10 certain shippers Inti1
! they got In q network of preferences from
which they were unable TO extrtcate them.
selves by any individual action on their
part. After some difficulty, accompanied
| by the usual statement that | was r1,inior
the business interests Of the country. ws
got the rebate practice definitely stopped
of course, no great change of that kind
mas ever been made without incidental
| hardshlps being suffered by many good
| people You cannot make a change
and not suffer from the dislocation. Soms
good people in some communities did
suffer. and | think that Kansas citV
was the community that for the time heinz
suffered considerably. Kansas City had re
| bates that | think at times Were as high
as 50 per cent, and I was quite prepared
Tor an outhurst of Dissatisfaction fronr
Kansas city. But II Is immensely to Won,
credit that received unanimous approval
Your people said that this chanpa VA
,ight ,b and and the thing ought t? be done. and
| l think IT was as fine An decentralization
as one could desire of the wiilingness nt
! your people hquarely to face a moral issue
From the Commercial Club luncheon
Il