Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-07
Republican Convention Gossip

with George Perkins, who is known
as the doughman Of the Roosevelt
campaign. He has a flock of rooms in
the Blackstone hotel. The press boys
whom | consulted said he was pleas
ant sort, but was difficult to reach,
and it was a waste of time trying to
run the line of pickets outside his
quarters. But we were not to be SO
easily scared We saw Brother Per-
kins once in Maquoketa, Iowa. That
was several years ago. AS we were
/ the only two in the coach he recog-
nized us. We discussed finances and
| politics, and wesf6tnsi him altogether
an unusually we'll informed man. He
admitted at that time that he had ali
the money he needed, and we admired
! him for not being hungry for more.
| He talked with earnestness, and let US
in on his dreams of helping humanity
generally by devious schemes of his
own origin. AS we approached the
| Perkins quarters in the Blackstone of
| course we were halted by the chief
outside guard He waived us aside,
| but we refused to acknowledge the
| signal and kept moving toward the
| brass door knob. 1t was easily done.
1t all depends on the manner in which
such stunts are executed. If you
stand with hat in hand, and nervous
ly view the pictures on the wall, with
a pleas e-Mr-aDpeal exuding from
your countenance, you are liable TO
be picked up in the buster by the next
maid that appears on the scene. On
the other hand, if you keep under
steam and act towards the guard as if
you knew him all your life and that
his chief was actually awaiting you,
the doors swing open to you as if by
magic.
/ After the customary handshake,
George-you see we know him well
enough to call him by his first name
passed the spearmint, raised the north
window a couple of inches, and in
quired when we were last in Maquo
keta. First he gave orders that he
was not to be disturbed for half an
hour. We protested that we could
learn all we cared to know in a short
er period of time, but we were over
ruled.
"Of course you are still carrying the
first spear in the Roosevelt parade?
suggested we, just like that
Il wouldn't put it that way exactly"
said Perk. Il am greatly misunder-
stood | don't expect to profit per-
sonally through the selection of Roose-
welt My conviction is that he is the
best man for the country at this time.
We need a man of vigor and decision
Down our way we have always I'M
derstood that you gathered the money
to finance the Roosevelt campaigns,
and that your own contribution headed
the list 1t is not to be expected that
one would kick in with large COB of
his bank roll unless he was to receive
favors at the hand of his candidate
in the event he was successful at the
polls"
You don't fathom the beauty there
is in living when one feels that he is
helping others. Don't get me wrong
I mean that through Roosevelt as head
of the nation it would be possible to
be more helpful to humanity"
will Roosevelt be nominated"
Eyes, he will be-"
by whom"
We hope by both the republican
and moose conventions"
Our memory tells us that Roose-
welt declared some months ago that
he would not accept a nomination
from the republican party unless it
came to him without solicitation on
his part; that there must be a nation
wide demand for him. Hasn't the
colonel somewhat descended from his
dignifed position?"
Yes and no. There is a demand for
him. Doubtless he realizes more than
does the average man the national
need for him there is at this time"
we have just read letters given
out by Roosevelt from two Germans
who had written him urging him for
the presidency. Do you suppose they
are friends of the colonel's?"
''Assuredly. yes. What would you
suppose them to be"
We thought they we're trying To