Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25
THE REAL THEODORE
Col. Jim Smuthers Praises His
Friend, Col. Roosevelt.
TELLS OF SELF-RESTRAlNT
Relates His Long Acquaintance and
Discusses the Traits of the Dis
tinguished Ex-President.

'Gentlemen of the Crystal Flagon, said
Jim Smuthers nibbling bit Of lemon
peel that had done it's fiavoring duty.
"by yon old bottle that has given us SO
many dreams Of wealth and glory in the
evening, and so many headaches on the
morrow, that has moved US to dulcet
poesy and tuneful song and left us with
a sour breath, I declare to you that great
wrong is done Theodore Rex by the
charge that he's ambitious.
$50 far as I have observed he never
put his picture on the postage stamps.
nor his autograph on dollar bills nor
his monogram on pennies, nor di dhe ever
hang his campaign Autographs in the front
window of the White House l say he
never did these thingsEno matter what
his wishes may have been. And l do
not think he was restrained by friends.
because friends who hold or hope for
office more often encourage than restrain.
awkward job. have broken mules. been
run over by a freight train, and been
married, but restraining Roosevelt is no
job for a peaceful mind.
History Twists Facts.
81 have heard it said by patrons of
this fountain of inward balm that Mr..
Roosevelt's career has been one OF great
lingual activity. It is perhaps true, gen.
tlemen. that he may never be known to
posterity as Theodore the Mum, but his
tory has genius for twisting
facts and turning verities upside
down. 1t may make big men small. and
mean men noble. but l am sure that any
history Mr.. Roosevelt may write will do
him justice. In handing out the praise
he will probably deal fairly with the Sage
Of Sycamore. Mr.. Roosevelt has never
been taciturn in speaking for himself, or
vindicate himself, no matter how often
he is misquoted. Mr.. Roosevelt has one
of the most abundant flows of rhetoric
ever turned loose in American politics.
His long and enthusiastic addresses in
favor Of tariff reform were the most
eloquent he ever uttered. As a CONVEX
satiOnalist he was sometimes misunder-
stood. some gentlemen finding. it difficult
to repeat accurately what he said. And
they took the consequences.
Few. public men have ever shown a!
much courage and persistence and elo
Quence In denouncfng everything the vot
ers were against and In praising every
thing they favored as Mr.. Roosevelt
He attacked unfiinchingly every evil tina
everybody was against. No evil was to,
well known for him to assail. He coult
make long speech several times IL
| many places and send a special mes
sage to Congress In support Of any on
of the ten commandments In SOM
parts Of the west he was considered tn,
! inventor Of these commandments, but HI
| never claimed to. be more than thei
guardian and benefactor. A number o
goodly bishops, who are convivial friend
of mine after church hours, have as
sured me that the commandments wer,
known to have existed before the Is
Volunteer Cavalry saved the American
army at Santiago or before Col. Roose
welt fought the Spanish-American war.
The Colonel's Humility.
1.-THE aspect of Col. Roosevelt tina
makes an especially strong appeal to mi
is his humility. l hope no one will in
| terrupt me with a missile when I say tina
one Of the chief charms of Mr.. Roose
| Welt lies in his meekness of manner ant
his gentleness Of speech. His placit
disposition are too well known to al
those with whom he has disagreed. Il
need any eulogium from me. When op
posed his reticence has filled many page!
of the press. When impugned his soft
ness Of speech has been heard not onl,
by those present, but by those a Ions
way of.
'The colonel is one of the mildest man
nered men. He and 1 have been clos'
friends ever since he began to talk.
USED TO De an dQmlrer OF william JeH
nings Bryan, but when the real colone
came along I felt that William ]. wa
only a reactionary, who had but a feebl,
conception of the wrongs inflicted on TIT
people by Wall street and other power
Of the plutonic pit. And in the severa
years that the colonel and / have beer
chums he has never denounced me as {
prevaricator-more than dozen or s,
times. In this, perhaps. the colonel ha!
been too conservative.
at is not true that Col. Roosevelt
| ernnkos a cigar hy the lighted end drink,