Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-05-04

Theodore Roosevelt with the press Of
the United States at his command
| is capable Of becoming a menace;
left to himself he is little more than
a suffering frecracker. Roosevelt
should be ignored by the reputable
press so that, like toy. balloon, ne
may collapse.
t This Indictment is just. Should the
newspapers ignore the former Presi-
dent he would soon be forgotten in
this busy age. But, unfortunately,
every thing he utters is rushed into
print, and that is what the colonel
desires.
After over half a century's observa-
ton in a newspaper Office, the writer
could publish enough "reminiscences
in connection with the above to I'LL
every column of the Gazette. While
the small fry of humanity are never
better pleased than when they find
their names in print, others of more
notoriety are equally enthused wheE
they find themselves subjects of COM
ment in papers. Some are totally IN
different as to the manner in which
their names ARE printed, all they
want is notoriety.
A solemn-looking man "a stranger,
once approached knight of the quill
in this city and said he was convlnc-
ed he was natural grandson OF
| George Washington. The newspaper
man called his attention to the fact
that should his statement prove true
| it would be reflection upon his
grandmother. The stranger was not
averse to casting such an insinuation
upon his progenitress in order to
get his name into print.
/ A would-be politician on one oc-
casion upbraided an attache of this
paper because, as he alleged his name
seldom appeared in print in connec-
ton with the boiling of the political
pot in his neighborhood. The news
paper man told him his name would
be published when it was in order.
The man finally said: Il do not care
what you say concerning me. YOU
may apply a certain epithet if you
choose. "The epithet was one no
good man deserves and wnl... no
brave man would take.
Many years ago tramp preacher
self ordained, took up his abode IN
| this city. He met the writer on the
street and requested him to call the
attention of the public to the -,.ct
that he was in town. He said further:
/ Il haven't the slightest objection to
anything you may say concerning
me. You can use any language you
! please, and attack me as violently as
! you can.
! 1t may be unnecessary to state
that in many cases articles common
datory of certain individuals are writ
ent By themselves. This is often done
/: by people in honorable positions as
! well as by others who attempt to
scale the steep hill Of fame.
/ In certain city not long ago a
would-be great man became offended
with the reporters of the papers of
the place. He made bitter attacks
upon the knights of the quill, sup
! posing they would retort, which he
wanted them to do. The reporters
met later, when a dean of the party
gave the following sensible advice:
'Let that man severely alone. Never
mention his name in future, and
in a short time he will have passed
into a total eclipse" His advice was
needed. and it was not long before
the ambitious individual made over
lures for peace. The reporters, how
ever. adhered to their determination.
and the man was finally forgotten in
inc community in which he thiro.-
for prominence.
Should Roosevelt be let alone, NJ
would eventually flicker and go out