The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-10
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Col. Roosevelt Tells the People
of Spokane, Wash.
That He Desires Nothing More
at the Nations Hands.
HIS PRESENT TOUR
Is Solely to Thank Those Who
Have HOnOred Him.
He Takes Another Shot at the
Misguided Rich.

Spokane, Wash, April 1o.-Theodore
Roosevelt has had honors enough. He
desires nothing more, not even the pres
1dency again, it may readily be in
ferred from a declaration he made here.
| am not an aspirant for anything
because have had everything" he de-
clared- mo other man alive has had
1 don't know whether 1 ought to use
this simile in the presence of the chap
lain but 1 am going to take chances
no other man alive has had such good
run for his money
Mr.. Roosevelt declared that he was
making his present tour for no other
| purpose than that which he has already
| assigned-to thank the people who had
elected him to the presidency. Had he
never come to the west he said he
never would have raised his regiment
and never have become president In
conclusion he said:
1T is the service done, not the title
of the place held that counts. And
you won't. any of you, have to puzzle
as to my motives if you will accept
my statements at their face value. You
nave not got anything / want except
your respect and good will, insofar as
you choose to give me your respect and
your good will; and all I desire insofar
as the chance arises where I am able
to do So to help you in any movement
| for the good of our common country
| That is all 1 want
The Men of wealth
OF New York's wealthy men, Mr.
| Roosevelt said:
There are, am sorry to say, very
large number of immensely wealthy
| business men of New York who are
not in sympathy with the progressive
movement, and if I may say so, are
| altogether out of sympathy with me- I
do not dislike them a bit; they dislike
| me.
There are a few of them. believe
who are. crooks. and I will get at rich
crook just as quick as 1 will a poor
crook, no quicker. But most of them
are honest men who are absolutely him
dered by their environments. That is
them don't read anything that 1 say,
excepting the headlines of the papers
they themselves subsidize. They don't
know what preach, they don't know
terest."
Speaking to the city school teachers
| earlier in the day, Mr.. Roosevelt out
| lined his views as to the duties of both
teachers and parents. He also talked
of the country life commission.
1.-TWO of the greatest factors in the
| betterment of country life are the
church and school, he said to the
| teachers. Il hope to see them the
centers for the broader view of reIi-
gious' and educational teaching, such
as the mothers club or uplift move
ments.
Cuckoo Type of Parent
81 want to say word to the cuckoo
type of parent who leaves the child to
the teachers for all the training. The
proper training for children is to
make them useful, not worthless I
do not envy the idle rich; I despise
| themi Poor wretches! Think what
they must miss in life!"
OF the country life commission he
said:
to say on the problem of country life
the betterment of country conditions
| II want to express my hearty ac-
acknowledgements to the chamber of
commerce of this city for an action it
| took which was strikingly in contrast
to the action taken by the congress of
the United States before it fell under
progressive leadership.
"I appointed the country life COM
mission, acting in accordance with my
duty as president. That commission
made a most valuable report. They
did not get penny's reward for MAX
ing it. They sacrificed themselves,
and at considerable monetary cost to
themselves made an invaluable investi-
| CATION and report. All 1 asked of con-
the report. Congress not only refused
to print it, but passed a resolution that
no such commission should ever be ap-
pointed by the president.
| when 1 say congress, 1 mean con-
gress under the so-called conservative
reactionary leadership. 1t declined to
recognize what ought to be a suffi-
ciently obvious fact that the business
of a legislator is to try to represent
and lead Alright the people whom he
represents.
| when congress took that action we
had fortunately a progressive city pos
sessing leaders of large minds able to
| take the long view of matters, and
| Spokane-through its private citizens,
| through its leading business men
| hemselves-Spokane had that report
printed and circulated by the tens of
thousands
The Guest of I. U.
Moscow, Idaho, April 10.-Theodore
Roosevelt was the guest of the Uni
versity of Idaho today. Plans had
| been made for the former president
to speak in the open air from a plat
| form composed of a thousand sacks of
grain, but rain compelled their aban-
| donment. His address was delivered
| in the university gymnasium today to
an audience of 5000 persons, while
thousands who had gathered from the
surrounding country were unable to
gain admittance.
Mr.. Roosevelt was accompanied by
| Governor James H. Hawley and Dr.
James A MacLean, president of the
/ University.