New-York tribune., 1911-12-17
VI

O. TINS Docy are, at best, elastic, but GER
tain rules and customs and traditions
are rigid enough. and some Of these the
inexperienced young man who had been
IN Cuba al alone" and had governed
the seven millions of people who compose
the State Of New York disregarded. He
had notion, not shared by the Senate,
that rules were meant TO facilitate busi-
ness, and used them to that end l don't
say that a trap was laid for him. but
however it happened he found himself at
odds with some Of the Senate leaders,
his rulings questioned and precedents
quoted against him. He gave way. but
II may well enough be that, though the
King forgot, or said he forgot the griev-
ances Of the Dauphin, the President re-
membered the affront put on him as
Vice President
1 had sat one day for half an hour
with the President in the Cabinet cham
Der. where at that time he gave audi
ence, or, if you like better received Wis
itors who had appointments. When I
rose to go he said. with a whimsical look
in his eyes:
DO you know you have been keeping
Senators waiting all this time and they
don't like waiting"
And when l suggested that it was in
his power, but not in mine. to make these
great men dance attendance outside, he
said:
1T is good for them. am President,
after all. But don't 90. Sit on that
sofa in the corner and hear what they
have TO say. 1t may amuse you"
But IL will not amuse them
Never you mind. When I think you
ought 20 go I will tell you"
l did as l was hidden. The faces of
the Senators who one after another came
in were studies in surprise and some
stronger feelings. The President re-
ceived them as usual and as if nobody
else was there, and talked, though they
did not with freedom. When they hest
tated he said. "Oh, go on" and 10 the
end enjoyed the fun" Some Of the
Senators I knew and they me. but that
did not seem to relieve the situation.
There We're others beside Senators,
among them district political managers
bosses, in short-With candidates TO
urge for Offices The President listened
TO them, but when they had stated their
case IL presently appeared that he knew
as much as they did about their districts
and candidates and local affairs He
may have been coached beforehand, but
there seemed no detail Of local politics
or men unknown to him. 1 thought IF
Gambetta, with a secret service spread
ing over all France. IL was said Of the
great Frenchman that one reason Of his
supremacy was his mastery Of affairs
and his all-embracing knowledge. It
might DO said OF Mr.. Roosevelt.
Twice I saw the President in less au-
shaved him while he talked without
ceasing. It's the only time I can get
remarked Mr.. Roosevelt. Il hope You
don't mind" / did not mind. It was
one trait the more.
Twice in his Police and Vice-P -Presiden-
tial days l met him in odd ways. Once
was At the Oriental Hotel where Mr..
Platt, then in the height of his power,
or not far from it, was staying. II
think we might cali on Mr.. Plat, said
Mr.. Roosevelt, and we did. We spent
an hour with him, and this time he car
ried discretion so far as to leave politics
wholly aside. During most of the visit
he discoursed TO Mr. Platt and me on
early Macedonian history, with elucida-
tions Of the policy and doctrines Of
Anaxa goras Antipater, and l know not
who else Mr. Platt's face, meanwhile,
was a mask. Much later We both dined
with Senator Depew in Washington. who
had as guest Mr.. Frederic Harrison from
London. whose knowledge Of ancient his
tory was certainly much greater than
Mr. Flatts To Mr.. Harrison also Mr.
Roosevelt enlarged after dinner on this
same topic Of Macedonia. 1t might nave
been a college professor expoUnding his
tory TO his pupils. Mr.. Harrison, who
has always thought himself better fit
ted 10 teach than TO learn, listened, with
Doliteness. not without surprise and abb
stained from all comment on the lect
urer's views. He recovered himself later
in England. upon the appearance Of a
friendly review Of Mr.. RoOsevelts
Cromwell" by Lord Morley; asking
Morley. How could you praise such a
book as that" But ! imagine most Of
MS would sooner accept Morley's opinion
than Harrison's.
Il may not be an auspicious moment
20 revive the memory Of the Presidents
bospitality 20 Mr. Booker Washington,
nor do I know whether the true story Of
that incident has been told. Nothing
could be simpler. The President had
seen Mr. Booker Washington In the
morning. and they had discussed to-
gcther Mr. Washingtons plans for the
education and other improvement # the
negro. They could not finish. and in or
der 10 90 on with the talk the President
said 10 Mr.. Booker Washington. Come
bacl, 10 dinner and we can take the mat
TER IN again" said the President:
81 asked him just as asked Mr..
Powdcrlv the other day in the same
circumstances. in both cases with no
other thought than to dispatch as
quickly as possible the business we had
on hand.
Whoever knows Mr.. Roosevelt will see
at once how natural, and Of course true,
Is this explanation. II was thus and not
otherwise that the invitation was given.
Nobody was more astouished than the
President that an incident so trivial in
itself-or which he thought trivial
should have reused the whole South TO