The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-11
A k.ANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER II.
A Visit With Il II

Martinique, 4 letter written five days
previously addressed to meN and en-
dorsed ito arrive" The letter said:
MY Dear Mr. MacLennan: Colonel
Roosevelt will be glad to see you Tues
day afternoon, April %. at the Har-
ward club at o'clock"
: 1t was written on Colonel Roose-
velts stationery and signed ~. NJ.
Stricken, Secretary" You can depend
upon it that in my note in reply 1 did
not say Dear Mr.. Stricken" made
no such break as that. I happened to
know that the name of the coloners
able and charming secretary is jose
phine.
How I did hate to break that ap-
pointment! But l had to break it, 1
knew that. 1t must be broken as
gently as possible for Colonel Roose-
welt is a mighty interesting man and
no one who has a chance to meet him
can afford 10 let the opportunity go
by; If he does he is sure to miss
something interesting. I don't like to
miss interesting things or interesting
people. so I promptly wrote a note
something like this:
Dear Miss Stricken: 1 appreciate
Colonel Roosevelt'S cordial invitation to
see him Tuesday afternoon. April %,
at the Harvard club at o'clock. 1t
is great disappointment to me to say
that l cannot meet him at that time.
1t is this way: 1 came on to New
York to attend the Associated Press an
nual meeting and the annual meeting
of the American Newspaper Publishers
association. The Associated Press has
an all-day meeting Tuesday the 23rd,
and the American Newspaper Pub
| fishers will meet at the same place,
| the Waldorf-Astoria, Wednesday,
Thursday, and until Friday this week.
These meetings are very important
to me as a publisher. On Tuesday
there is a luncheon given by the As
ISOLATED Press to it's members, and 1
am quite sure the luncheon will not
| be over until after o'clock, and from
| 8 o'clock until evening will be a con-
tinuation of the meeting with the re-
| turns covering the election OF a new
board.
"On Wednesday noon there is
luncheon given to the members of the
Advertising Bureau. 1 am a member
of this.
"On Thursday noon there is lunch
| con given by John Stewart Bryan, of
Richmond, to the publishers of Trench
and Camp. The edition for Camp Fun
ston is published from my office.
It hope I may see Colonel Roosevelt
some time between noon Friday and
Sunday midnight. My business in
| New York after Friday noon is wholly
| subordinate, and If might ask an ap-
pointment be made accordingly, it
would give me great pleasure"
Wasn't it hard luck. and somewhat
nervy to ask a former president and
the great American citizen to change
| his appointment? But 1 have met
Colonel Roosevelt so many times that
I am familiar with the high type he
exemplifies I know his democracy;
and 1 know that he respects a position
taken by anyone, no matter by whom.
that even might on its face. but not in
reality, appear to lack full Difference
toward any one who is powerful by
reason of his office or position. Any
man can go to Colonel Roosevelt, if
properly known, no matter who he is,
if he is believed to be ION the square, ="
state his case and get consideration.
| 1 stated my case and I got prompt
consideration, for messenger
brought this note in reply:
BE at the Harvard club. Friday.
the 26th. at P. M
| was there; at least I intended to
be there and 1 was there on time as
nearly as I could be. This is what
happened to both of US:
I took a taxi and headed for the
Harvard club on Forty-fourth street
between Fifth and Sixth avenues. 1t
was on the afternoon of the great New
York City parade about the Third
Liberty Loan. Fifth avenue, the natur-
al route to the club from my hotel.
was impa ssable. The driver went up
Sixth avenue as far as Forty first
street. 1 saw we were blocked and
remarked that 1 would walk the rest
of the way.
| That parade was hours in passing a
given point. which was between me
and the Harvard headquarters There
were 10000 people in it and 100000
watching it.
When 1 finally reached the club it
was $40. I asked the man at the en-
trance If Colonel Roosevelt had come
in. He said no; felt better He was
late and would probably give me cred
it for being on time, as 1 should have
been
sat down to write a letter in a
room adjoining, keeping my eye
askance on the door. In a few min
utes the familiar figure came in,
stepping lively, stopping at the same
desk. I hurriedly put the unfinished
letter in my pocket and walked to-
ward the front. Colonel Roosevelt
seeing me about the same time, walk
ed over in my direction. We exchanged
greetings, he saying: 81 was delayed
held up by the Liberty Loan parade"
He took me by the arm and said: at
want to go to the cloak room and
check my hat and overcoat." I had
checked my own already. He took my