The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-02-09
First Steps Have Been Taken
to Give the Glad Hand to
the Mighty Hunter When He
Arrives Here.
STEWART is LOOKING
TO ROOSEVELT'S AID
To Reorganize the Republican
Party in the Empire State
Reception Plans Are Told
to President Taft.

aShlngt0n. February 9.-PlanS for
rousing reception to former President
Roosevelt upon his return to the Unit
ed States next June are under way. Ar
rangements are being made for one
OF the greatest demonstrations in the
history of the country in the city of
New York. and President Taft already
has indicated his desire to be present.
John A. Stewart of New York, presi-
dent of the Republican league of clubs
of the Empire State. came to Wash
ington yesterday to apprise the presi-
dent of the purport of a cable message
he received from Colonel Roosevelt.
Last month Stewart cabled an invi-
tatiOn to him to accept welcome
home, and the former presidents ac-
art said tonight:
about five weeks ago | called at
the White House to tell President Taft
that-acting for a proposed committee
from the Republican Club as well as
for those who, aboard ship, had asked
President Roosevelt to assent to a re-
ception being given cablegram was
about to be sent to the former preSi-
dent, asking him to permit us to ar
range for national reception to take
place in New York city on the date OF
his return.
Taft Was "In the Know"
president Taft was the only per-
son, outside of one or two others di-
rectly interested. who knew that such
a cable was to be sent, and he was the
first person to whom it was made
known that a favorable reply had been
received.
Upon the occasion of my first visit
to the president he told me to go ahead
by all means and to count on him.
Just before cabling ] received letter
from Colonel Roosevelt and his cable
informed me that he had written at
length with regard to the matter of his
reception, which he wished to take
place the very first day of his arrival.
NO arrangements have, OF course,
as yet been perfected, and l have only
vague notion of just what sort of a
program will be arranged. At noon
tomorrow | expect to have a talk with
President Taft. The Republican club
will defer to the wishes of President
Taft.
In a general way | should say that
the welcome will be simple and digni-
fled. and no attempt will be made at
elaborate display, but rather to afford
an opportunity for the country to vel
come a former president.
Full details of the reception will, as
Colonel Roosevelt requests. be forward
ed to him at Khartoum. and it is likely
special committee will meet him in
London and perfect arrangements.
1T is expected that Colonel Roose-
welt will arrive on some date between
June Is and June 21. The reception
will be national in its scope and en-
tirely nonpolitical.
Nothing Doing Politically.
Just before he left for his African
hunting trip, Colonel Roosevelt told
me that he would not be a candidate
for United States Senator from New
York: that he would not think of be-
coming a candidate for Mayor of New
York and would not accept the office;
that he would not be a candidate for
President in 1912.
Unless he has changed his mind in
the last four weeks. he is as strongly
in favor of the denomination of Pres
ident Taft. His friendship for the
president is as close and cordial now
as at any time. There never was any
GOODNESS between the president and
Colonel Roosevelt.
The former presidents only ambi-
ton is to become a useful. private cit
izen. and to exercise the inestimable
privilege as such to speak his opinions
and voice his convictions. AS a for
nier president, he will, of course, have
greater influence in his party than
any other private citizen, and he will
be a bigger factor in politics than any
other man. But he does not aspire to
any public office, and | do not believe
he could be induced to accept any Of