The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-09-26
ROOSEVELT FORCES COM.
GRAHAME TO PAY PIPER

| GRAHAME TO PAY PIPER
An interesting and characteristic
story of Colonel Roosevelt was told by
the late Laurance Grahame, who was
appointed Commissioner to Porto
Rico when the Colonel was President.
The Roosevelt Memorial Association
now conducting campaign for funds
to establish fitting memorials to the
former president, recalls that the
President made tour of inspection
some time after the United States had
been in charge of the Island, and Mr..
| Grahame was naturally anxious to
show the result of his labors. Just at
that time the Colonel was interested
in jui-jitsu, and, like everything else
he took up, was in it heart and soul.
Riding through the streets OF San
Juan in a carriage with Mr.. Grahame,
bowling and waving his hands to the
cheering people, he was meanwhile in
deep discussion with Mr.. Grahame.
The President was wasting no time
| listening to reports. He fully be-
lieved that he had appointed the right
man for the job, and took it for grant
ed that it had been properly attended
to, as it had. The matter of the mo-
ment was warm argument regarding
the relative merits of jiu-jitsu and
Caledonian wrestling, and Mr., Ora
hame, who was of Scotch descent, ar
athlete and a good wrestler, claimed
that for every jiu-jitsu grip there was
some Caledonian "break." The Presi-
dent was not to be convinced orally.
He said he would have to be shown.
1t was agreed that at the first OPP
portunity the proper physical test
should be made. Later on there was
an intermission of about twenty min
utes in the exercises of the day, before
the ceremony of presentation Of tne
Keys of the City. The event was to
take place in the Throne Room" back
of which was "Robing Room" What
better time or place to settle such an
important controversy? So the Pres
ident of the United States and the
High Commissioners of Porto Rico pull
ed off their coats and "went to it,"
The physical argument finally re-
suited in tight clinch, with the High
Commissioners head under the Pres
ident's arm, position known as Gin
chancery."
The counter move in such a case,
under the Caledonian method, is to
place the palm of the hand under the
opponents nose and shove his head !
over backwards. Unfortunately for
Mr.. Graham, he got his hand under !
the Presidents chin instead of his (
nose, about the most immovable point |
point of Roosevelt's anatomy, and the
result was dead lock.
What might have been the ultimate
result will never be known. The con-
testants were too busy to note the
fleeing moments, until their atten-
ton was attracted by the appearance
of committee of Mortified prominent
citizens, bearing a pillow and the
"Keys to the City,"
They broke away quickly, Colonel
Roosevelt grinningly explaining that
his High Commissioner had not be-
haved to his liking, so that he felt |
called upon to inflict personal chastise-
ment upon his erring official.
Later in the day there was to be
a dinner, and Mrs. Roosevelt asked
Commissioner Grahame what uniform |
he wore to keep pace with his gorge
Gus Spanish contemporaries. He stat
ed that the only uniform he had was
his Highland costume, and she sug-
gested that he wear that to the dinner,
which, taking her wish as decree, he
did. An evening reception followed |
the dinner, with the Grahames in the |
receiving line. l,l
It developed that there was =
strange GOODNESS toward Commissioner |
Grahame on the part of the Porto |
Ricans.
He called his Secretary and asked |
the trouble. The secretary asked if |
he had seen the afternoon papers. He
hadn't! They were shown him, and,
translated, read something like the
following:
"The strenuous President of the |
United States with his own hands ad- |
ministers punishment to the Commas
sioner of Porto Rico for neglect Of |
duty"
Commissioner Grahame had to ap-
peal to President Roosevelt to square |
him with the guests, which the Pres
ident tried to do, by placing him by |
his side and and insisting that all |
should greet him. The President en-
joyed hugely the humor of the occa-
sion, which the Spaniards were miss
ing. |
The damage was done, however, and !
the morning papers carried the same
story, adding that Mr.. Grahame, mis-
taking the evening reception for
masquerade ball, had appeared clad