The Washington herald., 1910-02-20

TON, D. c., SUNDAY, FEBRUA
Mr. Roosevelt told me right after his
nomination that If he were elected lie
would not be a candidate in 1908 He
hesitated to make his decision public be
cause his enemies might say he was
merely talking for campaign purposes.
When Judge Parker, the Democratic
nominee, announced that he would refuse
a second term. Mr.. Roosevelt could not.
without appearing TO play at politics,
sneak of his own intentions Although
he kept Silent. there was never remote
possibility of Mr. Roosevelt shifting his
ground After four years Of pressure
from all parts Of the country, the deci-
sion of 1904 remained unchanged
Did he write or dictate his public ad-
dresses and messages TO Congress-"
"He dictated all Of his state papers and
speeches to stenographers Everything
he ever said to Congress or the people,
however. was csrefully thought out in
advance either while he was walking for
l
exercise or on horseback or riding in a
| carriage"
when did you first come into personal
relations with him?"
I 4 was a stenographer in Albany
Interrupting. l said: rs it true that you
were once a messenger boy?'
yes NV father met with reverses in
his business. and at the age of twelve I
began carrying messages for the Western
Union Telegraph Company. But I didn't
lose step with my class at the grammar
school In eighteen months ] returned
and graduated ut the head Of my class.
After being two years in Albany High
School, / took up stenography. at my
/ fathers suggestion. In ten months l
was working for newspaper correspond
ent and getting s. a week.
Often Changed Employers.
by that time l had determined to be
court reporter It was my theory that a
law stenographer ought to have wide
range of experience and information. So
changed employers frequently to get
fitted for my work / was with an ex-
| press company for a while, was amanuen-
sis 20 Bishop Doane, who advised me to
! prepare for the ministry of the Episcopal
/ Church, and later was stenOgrapher in
railroad Office While with the agent of
an Insurance company, / examined prop
ertv on which policies had been written,
for the purpose of ascertaining If the
solicitors had accepted prudent risks.
/ of
worth OF insurance IN Northern New
York. the officers Of the company offered
me $500 a year and a permanent place.
was only twenty-one years old, but /
didn't want to change my plans. / also
spent two years in a lawyers office. and
while there studied law. going at night
to the Albany Medical College TO equip
myself for taking the expert testimony
Of physicians and chemists. Afterwards
was paid s15 a day for such work.
AT the advice of a newspaper friend, l
became a candidate for the office Of
stenographer for the State assembly, and
was nominated by a majority of four
votes. I reported conventions of various
kinds acted as secretary te several pub
lie officers, and worked in court when
ever l could. Ny earnings amounted TO
about 5000 a year. ] had never seen
Mr.. Roosevelt previous 10 his coming TO
Albany, on January !. 1899. to be inaugu-
rated governor OF New York. His secre-
tary, William ]. Youngs. asked me TO
assist him for day or two. and | helped
Mr.. Roosevelt with his correspondence
the first morning after his arrival in Al
bany. taking the liberty of telling him
what | knew about the persons who had
written to him on different subjects Two
or three days later he asked Mr.. Youngs
to detail me as his personal stenOgrapher.
and when / said l meant TO return TO
court work. Mr. Roosevelt induced me
to stay by increasing my pay out of his
own POCKET"
Present at Convention.
Were you in Philadelphia when he
was nominated for Vice PRESIDENT
Il went along and saw the inside Of all
the business done at that historical con-
vention Mr.. Roosevelt, as every one
knows. wanted to serve out his term as
governor. One evening learned that the
New York delegates were TO meet that
night and take action on the Vice Presi-
dency The delegates were supposed tO
be TO unit for Timothy L. Woodruff
My information was to the effect that
Senator Platt and Benjamin B. Odell
purposed to have the delegates indorse
Mr.. Roosevelt. their object being, as
every one would understand. 10 push him
upstairs, to promote him against his will,
and tenderly TO lay him on the political
shelf
Mr.. Roosevelt was staying with rela-
tives in Spruce street. I went to him as
quickly as l could. and found him suffer
ing with toothache. When l told hin
what I heard. he hastily put on his hat
and said: Come along. I'll stop it, and
stand Platt and OdelI on their heads
The first man we saw at the hotel was
Odell himself Mr. Roosevelt rushed uI
to him. and exclaimed: IF you attempt
to have the New York delegation indorse
me for Vice President, l shall stand you
on your head We went into the meeting
at once. and MI Roosevelt kicked thC
conspiracy into a million pieces
Next day delegates from Kansas. Cali
fOTnia, and other States beyond the Mis-
sissippl called on Mr.. Roosevelt and told
, him that his nomination was a party
necessity, and that Mr. Mckinley was
not any too strong in the West Wher
Mr.. Roosevelt knew there was a genuine
demand for him, and not one that haC
been worked up. he consented to accept
the nomination"
And to go IN the shelf?'I added.
Goes on the Shelf.
Il suppose he felt that his political ca.
reer was closed. Mr.. Loeb answered. 90
thought so, anyway. There is no chance il