New-York tribune., 1910-06-28
ROOSEVELT HAS TALK
WITH LA TOILETTE
It Was About Politics, Dut
Neither Will Say lust What
Kind Ii Was.
GREATEST LIVING AMERICAN
That's What Senator Says About
Ex-President, and Adds That
He Is in Fighting
Trim, Too.


surgent leaders. spent two hours this
afternoon talking politics with ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt He left Oyster Bay
wearing a broad srniIo.
Senator Elmer J. Burkett, OF Nebraska,
another insurgent. is coming to Saga
more Hill after Mr. Roosevelt returns
from Boston He. too. will talk politics.
Representative Madison. OF Kansas.
still another insurgent. and member
of the Ballinger-Pinchot investigating
committee will be at Sycamore Hill
probably late this week His theme will
be politics.
Within the last few days Mr. Roose-
vent has talked politics with Clifford
Pinchot and his friend, James R. Gar
field.
Senator La Toilette arrived early m
the afternoon He had with him g. T.
Roe. New York lawyer, who was for
merly his law partner. Mr.. Rooseveits
chauffeur was waiting for them. and
whisked them away to Sycamore Hill
The Senator had pulled his hat down
over his eyes, and tried to escape un-
seen But he was caught fairly by a
Roosevelt automobile. They tackled him
on suspicion, although nobody recognized
him, for his hat hid his famous pompa-
Gour.
Not a word" he said. I'm going -
Sycamore Hill, but / don't want a word
said about it,
Get Leave to Talk.
When he returned, just In time to
catch a train for New York, he looked
like a schoolboy who had just won a
medal. He was smiling his most ex-
pansive. persuasive smile ITS all
right, boys" ne cried. jovially- The
colonel says I may talk to you"
The train pulled out, and so the re-
porters hoped on with the Senator and
rode to the next station.
Did we talk politics." he replied to
the first question.
I'VE did, and he emphasized the af-
firmation-
I'VE talked of the legislation OF the
present session OF Congress" he con-
tinued. from the attitude of those MEM
bers of the Republican party whom the
newspapers are pleased TO call insur-
gents
Can you go into details?'
mo. I prefer that they come from
Sycamore Hill am very much pleased
with the result of my visit with Colonel
Roosevelt-very much pleased. indeed
Greatest Living American"
The Senator paused for moment. re-
calling the happenings of the afternoon.
Suddenly the smile left his face for the
first time. and he said. impressively:
"I want TO tell you that Colonel
Roosevelt is the greatest living Ameri-
can. and" he added slowly and sig
nificantly. 'he is in fighting trim"
An hour later Mr. Roosevelt received
the reporters. who told him just what
Senator La Toilette said about him and
their meeting He smiled as if he
liked it,
IL think there is nothing I can add to
what the Senator has said" was his
comment.
Speculation among Oyster Bay pol1t1-
clans is keener than ever because of
to-day's occurrences. One story going
the rounds is that the insurgents have
come. have seen. but have not con-
quered Yet there is another group of
equally positive ones who insist that
Mr.. Roosevelt has shown clearly by his
acts that he is veering toward the radi-
calls All agree. however. that IT is en-
tirely a matter of opinion
Chopped Tree for Reporters
When Mr.. Roosevelt received the re-
porters he was standing on the side Of
the hill which slopes down from his
home. He wore crash golf trousers and
golf stockings and soft. brown shirt,
open at the neck He was hatless. one
of a group of four thickly clustered trees
he had chopped half through.
Wait Just a moment. pleas he
called out He raised his axe and
struck the tree hard In another min
ute 1t quivered and fell.
Great exercise said he. as he sat
cross-legged on the fallen trunk. his axe
across his knees 1T is about the only
exercise get out here. have just been
in the bayfield,"
II spent all the morning in going
through this mornings mall" he con-
as any man, but like to get somewhere
IL reminds me of the famous cat which
fell into the well. and climbed up one
foot every day only TO fan back two feet
at night. The volume OF mail has be-
come so great that I left word at the
postoffice to have II all sent 10 my edi-
tcriaI office in New York
Mr. Roosevelt said that Senator La
Toilette and Mr.. Roe We're the only Wis
itors OF the day, except two men who
had come to consult with him about his
Western tours. He agreed definitely to-
day to speak before the Milwaukee Press
Club on his tour. which begins the last
of August He also decided 10 make an
other trip early in October, IN which ne
will speak to- the Knights OF Columbus
of Peoria. Ill. on October 12, and in At
lanta on Uncle Remus Day. which. he
said he thought was October IL
Mr.. Roosevelt was asked about the re-
port which was published to-day to the
effect that an operation on his throat
was to have been performed this morn
ing. He laughed aloud
Why. the first / heard of IT," he said.
was when Senator La Toilette arrived
here and told me that he had read that
report | have never even heard of The