Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-21
ROOSEVELT At HOME
AFTER SPECTACULAR
DAY IN NEW YORK
His Welcome Was the Most
Stupendous Ever Accorded
a Returning Citizen by the
American People
EVEN THE STORM WAITED
UNTIL OVATION SUBSIDED

NEW 1ONhs JuHc 10
Roosevelt set foot on home shores to-
day for the first time in nearly Is
months and received a rousing well
come.
He bore with his usual buoyancy a day
of heavy fatigues. public duties and pri-
vate emotions commingled and at 4:4O
o'clock this afternoon, after family re-
union at the home OF Theron Butler,
,, grandfather of his prospective daugh-
ter-in-law, Miss Eleanor Butler Alex
ander. left the city he had surveyed the
same morning from. afioat. reviewed in
parade ashore and greeted by explicit
word OF mouth. to be welcomed more in
timately by hiS lifelong neighbors at
Oyster Bay. Long Island, tonight. To-
morrow he will rest.
SAME MAN OF ACTION.
AS a private citizen he was the same
outspoken, vigorous man of both words
and deeds the city of his birth had
known for 30 years as assemblyman.
police commissioner, assistant secretary
OF the navy, colonel of the Rough Rid
ers, governor of the state, vice presi-
dent and president Of the nation, and
more latterly ambassador to the jun
Ble anu " tAOSC WIN SIT AZ
he seats OF the mighty.
He had an expansive smile for every
body, a CHEEKY word for 1.-The boys"
his old friends, the newspaper men,
pat and anecdote for the politicians and
especial greetings of affection for his
old command, the Rough Riders, and
a quick eye for absolutely everything.
Lyman Abbott he called partner" ia
cob Riis was plain Jake" Assembly
man Paradise Jimmy" Oliver was
greeted by his nickname, and so 1t went
down the line.
LUCK STILL WITH HIM.
Roosevelt good luck still followed
its namesake. Though hot and sultry,
the weather held fair until the marine
! parade, the exercises at the battery
and the march up Broadway and Fifth
avenue to Central park had been car
ried through with punctuality and pre-
cision. Then It rained great sums. A
| torrential thundershower, accompanied
by a high wind that did much damage
swept suddenly down on the homeward
bound visitors. but cleared again short
ly before s O'Clock. IN plenty OF time
TO give his eager fellow-citizens of Long
Island ample chance to see him stand
ing on the rear platform OF his spe-
ciaI train as he waved them well
come
THREE GREAT WELCOMES.
Within a generation the nation re-
members three great welcomes before
this OF today, to General Grant in San
Francisco, after his triumphal tour OF
the world, following the expiration Of
his two terms as president: to Admiral
Dewey on his return from his capture
of the Philippines. and TO William j.
Bryan also after a tour of the world
The welcome to Grant was the most
/ tumultuous; that to Dewey the most
elaborate and sttely, but the welcome
to Roosevelt today was shot through
with a dramatic expectancy which long
! ago found popular expression in the
typical phrase, the return from Elba.'
Grant on his return was still a poll
teal possibility, but as events proved
| foredoomed to defeat. Admiral Dewey
was a hero, not a national leader. Bry-
an, prominent as his part had been be-
fore the people, had never been en-
trusted by them with executive respon-
sibility.
WELCOME WAS NATIONAL.
Roosevelt had been something of all
things all these men had-statesman.
and soldier and sailor too" Born in
the east, he had made an especial friend
OF the west. Therefore, his welcome to-
day brought men prominent in all walks
of life from all parts Of the country.
Therefore, II was national.
The first zest of public curiosity. spec
ulation, now turns on what share Roose-
welt will take in an acute political situa-
ton within his own party. But on that
score speculation must rest unsatisfed.
The colonel had positively declared his
intentions by wireless the night before:
IT shall have nothing whatever to say
in the immediate future about politics"
And he kept his WORD.
II was the policy he had announced on
his departure for Europe. which he had
reiterated on his return to civilization.
and to which he had steadfastly adhered
In all his addresses before the learned so
cieties and universities Of Great Britain
and the continent.
NOTHING ON POLITICS.
Therefore, there was nothing in the
only speech he made here today that
could be construed as applying specifical-
" to this or that phase OF immediate
state or national issues. That he will be
importuned to take a hand in the New
York campaign this fall is a foregone'
conclusion, but by his own declaration ne
viii not commit himself to any adoption
OF opinion until he has acquainted him
self at first hand. after long conferences
with those best informed OF just how the
political land shapes itself.
The sharp crack Of the familiar presi-
Dental salute Weakened Mr.. Roosevelt at
o'clock this morning as his ship, the
Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, drew into the
harbor. From the mists OF early morn
ing emerged first the drab hull OF the
battle ship South Carolina, two lean,
swift destroyers. and two torpedo boats
behind her. Then spoke the guns. Blue
clad sailors lined the decks, in close
packed ranks, while massed on the quar-
ter decks Of the South Carolina stood the
marine band. a solid splash of scarlet
coats. playing the Star Spangled Ban
ner" II did not take the colonel long
10 get out on the bridge. For a moment
he stood bareheaded and waved to the
men in silent answer TO their cheers.
Then the sight OF the South Carolina
Touched a heart string