The National tribune., 1910-06-23
.rhe ex-President Appreciative

Col. Roosevelt won everybody by tn,
genuine appreciation he showed for th'
reception. In fact, to the thousand.
who were able to get within
eyeshot or earshot of him. hi
bearing was the notable even
of the day. He is in every particular
the same old Roosevelt He knew al
the old friends. His memory was quicl
for names and incidents of acquaint
anceship. He was jubilant in conver.
sation and in handshaking. Whether
one came from Mississippi, the Da-
kotas or New York. it was all the same
he had something apropos to say anC
put the people OF every group and com.
pany he met into the best of spirits
And altho he is physically weary from
his prolonged round of visiting in Eu-
rope, he is nevertheless in excellent
health and needs only a few weeks OF
rest at home to be as good as ever.
The throngs along the line of march
o. kept him busy bowling and gesturing
Much of the way he stood in the car
riage, where Mayor Gayncr and Chair
man Cornelius Vanderbilt, of the Citi-
gems Committee, were riding. There
was no burst of cheering from win
dows or housetops that he was not
quick to detect, and he invariably rec
ognized it with a sweep of the hand or
a bow of the head.
OF course, the occasion was filled with
a multitude of interesting incidents,
half of which have not been, and never
can be. chronicled. But it all went to
show that Col. Roosevelt still fills a
large place in public esteem. 1t was
almost everywhere inferred that if he
would return to political leadership his
authority would be recognized thruout
the land.
But he has been exceedingly cautious
about saying aught that would indi-
60 - ~ ID
publican factions. There was nothing
of political significance in his public
utterances, and he has emphasized his
intention to say nothing of that charac-
ter for some time to come.
RooseveIts Political Attitude.
The politicians in New York, how
ever, are getting a fairly definite opin-
ion of ex-President RooSevelt's atti-
tude on National questions. They think
they know in general way about the
course he will follow. This does not
detract from their interest in particu-
lars. which will develop as the Sum-
mer progresses.
First of all, is the conclusion that
the ex-Eresident's support and possible
Endorsement of the Administration will
be little more than perfunctory. More
than half dozen of the ultra -Roose-
welt men, who are intimate with him,
have come in to New York in recent
days. Some are men who have tray-
eled with him. They love him for the
enemies he has made among the male
factors. At least to a few of them he
has talked in confidential vein about
politics.
To a man these confidential friends
are politically preserving a satisfied
cOmposure. They are as enthusiastic
as ever about the ex-President, and as
Nt1at hot rT-.aT
ing out the Rooseveitian ideas. They
say that Col. Roosevelt has always been
regular during campaigns and expect
him to be regular this year.
The Colonel will be throwing out
an occasional life preserver,' said one
of his travelling companions knowingly.
He will do that, however, later on;
There is no occasion for him to be in
a hurry about it,
Men are thinking over Col Roose-
yeIt's words at the Battery, where he
was received by Mayor Gaynor,. about
the responsibility upon an ex-Presi-
honored," said he. ''by being made
President of the United States, is there
by forever after rendered the debtor
of the American people, and he is
bound thruout his life to remember this
as his prime obligation, and in private
life as much as in public life, so TO carry
himself that the American people may
never have cause TO feel regret that
once they placed him at their head"
No one here seems to think that Col. |
Roosevelt will embarrass the Taft Ad- |
by any positive act during
the campaign. They expect him to help |
a friend here and there to a reelection |
and to have prominent part in an i
advisory capacity here in New York |
Ut would be no surprise IL he went as
far as TO indicate his preference for the
Republican nominees on the State
ticket. But the New York State cam
paign always begins late. 1t will not
start before September. In the mean
time the Colonel will have abundant
to rest and to get the at
mesphere of State and National politics. |
No Open Warfare.
II he decides to fight, there will be |
no open warfare, at least. till after the
elections have passed. OF course, any,
GOODNESS between him and President ]
TAFT must eventually out, but in ali |
probability. their differences Will be en-
phasized only in a quiet way, as have
the differences between Col. Roosevelt
anc half dozen prominent public men |
whose names could be mentioned. There
Is Gov. Hughes, for instance, who never
would train politically with Col. Roose-
welt and likes the latter's political |
methods no better than Col. Roosevelt |
likes those of Hughes. II was note |
worthy that Gov. Hughes did not come |
down to the pier TO greet the return
fng traveller, but sent a representative |
Senator La Toilette, OF Wisconsin, is |
an uplfter and believes in very many
reforms that the Colonel advocates, but |
they never could drive their horses to-
gether. As much has been true Of the |
Colonel and Senator Cummins
President-Colonel Roosevelt had no |
cordial place in his heart for these and |
other men like them, but he let them |
alone during campaign times He did |
not often go into the State or district |
and try TO defeat any Republican who |
rhad once obtained a nomination. Per-
saps the case of Representative James |
Wordsworth, OF New York, was about the |
only conspicuous exception. But that |
was feud of the variety which only
springs up between men who have Sace
been very close personal friends.
1t is common knowledge how Col |
Roosevelt, while in the White House, |
fought Speaker Cannon, Senator Quay
and other party leaders of promf- |
hence, but he eO-operated with them TO |
win votes for the Republican Party |
that IL might carry elections.
Hence 1t is that Republicans here, |
who have anything like inside informa-
ton, expect the warfare against Presi- |
dent Taft to begin, IL at all, eight or nine |
months from now. Should the country |
go Democratic, there would be little
himself to reorganize the Republican |
Party and put II into shape to win a |
victory in 1912. If the Republicans
1ntn fHnnRTEgG II,