The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-04-24
SEEKS FEE AFTER
TALKS AT FEASTS
From fridays Daily.

John T. Lenfestey, formerly oil
Mankato, now a resident OF Chicago
was recently interviewed by London
correspondent regarding the trip oil
Theodore Roosevelt in South Amer
lea. Mr.. Lenfestey is reported In a
dispatch from London to The Chi
cago Record-Herald as making some
interesting remarks about the former
president. The dispatch reads as fol.
lows:
'Ungenerous, not to say grasp
ing describes some of Theodore
Roosevelt's acts in South America
IL reports current there may be be-
lieyed." said John T. Lenfestey OF
Chicago TO the correspondent OF The
Daily News today on reaching Lon
don from Rio de Janeiro, after a
tour OF the principal South Amer
lean countries in the interest OF
closer trade relations between the
continents on the western hemis-
phere.
Mr.. Lenfestey carried letters of rec
concentration from Secretary of State
Bryan. Wilbur John Carr and Harry
A. Wheeler and represented the
Chamber OF Commerce of the United
States and the Chicago Association
Of Commerce. He thus gained admit
tance to the best informed circles in
South America, including the Dip
lomatic and consular officers of the
United States.
Roosevelt Critics Numerous.
my mission" continued Mr.. Len
fes.ey. brought to my attention n
number OF things prejudicial to the
spread of American Influences and
business in the republics Of South
America.
Mr.. Roosevelt left an unfortunate
impression wherever he went. Re-.
ports adverse d him reached me
from responsible sources in Santa
go, Buenos Aires, Montcyideo and
Rio de Janeiro.
His conduct In Rio was the sub
ject of native comment OF a partic.
ularly scathing character. He arrived
there Oct. 81, accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt. a niece and his son Ker.
NIT, and was received by the presi-
dents's representatives, government
officials and the diplomatic corps. He
was conducted to the Guanabara pal.
nee, facing the beautiful Rua Pasan.
du, the street of a thousand palms.
The palace was evacuated by the |
president, who placed Il, with 100
servants, at the disposal OF the
Roosevelt party.
Few At colonei's Feats.
The visitors stayed a week, and
were the recipients OF regal hospi. |
tally, banquets, government and civ
ic honors, numerous automobile |
drives and private courtesies from
many notables.
MIR. Roosevelt was urged to enter.
tain whom he pleased at the palace,
and forty covers we're regularly laid.
although only six or eight were used.
ION his third or fourth night In
Rio de Janeiro Roosevelt spoke thirty
minutes on the relations between the
United States and the South Ameri.
can republics before the Rio de
Janeiro Historical and Geographical
society, which had invited him to J
South America and made him an /
honorary member, the highest honor
II could confer. The audience was
composed of ambassadors, generals,
leading politicians and members OF |
society, possibly 100 In all.
"The night of October 20 Mr.. Roose-
welt left for Sac Paulo on a special
train provided by the government on
the Central Brazil Railroad. He visited
points Of interest on the line, looked
over the capital and the state of Sac
Paulo, and continued on his journey
to Buenos Aires at the expense oil
the Brazilian government.
Sends 5lIl For Lecture.
After all this the Historical and
Geographical society received from
Mr.. Roosevelt a bin for $4,000 for his
brief lecture.
Already $4,000 or $4,000 had |
been spent on the visitors In enter.
tainment The Brazilians politely
paid the bill, but they could not con-
ceal their amazement.
When the American residents OF
Rio de Janeiro learned the facts their
humiliation was enexpressible. The
story was published in the Journal
do Commerce. personally asked the
Count Candid Mendes d,Almeida,
owner OF the Journal do Brazil, II the
STORY was true, and he answered
Yes
Il was told that Mr.. Roosevelt,
while everywhere accepting public and
private hospitality on an extraya-
CANT scale. charged for all his speech.
es. He also harped on the Monroe
doctrine and pan-American solidarity
In a way that struck South Ameri-
cans as offensive.
These stories about Mr.. Roosevelt
do not repeat out Of any I'll feeling
for him. but to emphasize the fact
that such treatment postpones in.
rehnitely that rapprochement with
South America which we all want
and which some of us are trying
hard TO obtain.