Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-02-25
Comedian Treated Him
as He Did Wilson
and Roosevelt
FIRST TWO LIKED THEM
Rogers Says Big Men
Never Take Offense
at His Jokes
Special to the News

delphia Records story of the presi-
dents displeasure toward Will Rog-
ers is very choice picture of human
nature in high places. 1t is worth
reproducing in full:
The Harding administration has
served notice on stage people that it
doesn't like to be tn ebutt of their
jokes.
This is the Interpretation placed
on incidents of the next week when
Will Rogers, cowboy actor, screen
star and headliner of Ziegfeld's Frol-
ic, came under the displeasure of the
white house after he had perpetrat-
ID several of his best jokes at the ex-
pense of Harding and his Disagree.
ment Conference" as the comedian
trms it.
Rogers caused tickets to his per-
formance to be sent to the president,
but they were returned with
thanks
When congressman friend OF
Rogers asked for tickets to the white
house reception for the actor he was
told that they were "sorry' but it
can't be arranged"
The final chapter in the affair To-
cally was written Saturday night
when Rogers, in replying to one of
numerous encores, from a packed
house, made some observations that
might appropriately be labeled
presidents I have known" In re-
sponse to curtain call Rogers said:
"I have cracked quite few jokes
on public men here, both republicans
and democrats. l hope have not
piven offense. In fact, | don't be-
Ilieve any big man will take offense
with considerable emphasis on the
big man.
81 recall when President Roosevelt
was in the white house and l was
cub performer. l took several filings
at Teddy. Later, when | was invit-
ed to the white house, l remarked on
meeting Roosevelt: We'll, l hope
YOU are not going to put me in jail
Roosevelt laughed heartily and
said: will am going to call you
IWjll-don't be afraid you will hurt
nv feelings. Whenever you can use
nv name to advantage go the limit. "
! This was the beginning of warm
friendship between the irrepressible
Teddy and the actor.
incidentally, Theodore Roosevelt
Jr.. and Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth entertained Rogers at lunch
con at the Longworth home here this
week.
~ remember, too" said Rogers,
"that when Wilson was in the white
house during the late war, l cracked
some rather rough jokes at his ex-
nense at this theater, when he and
| his family occupied box, and VII
son laughed long and heartily. After
all it is the test of big man,
whether he can stand the gaff."
The comedians curtain talk went
"over the heads" of most OF his au-
dience at the time, as his run IN
with the white house was not gener-
allv known, but as the details OF the
affair became public this week it has
created a buzz of comment in con-
oressional cloakrooms and among the
Theatrical people in town.
Rogers remained over in Washing.
ton Sunday to see the production Oh
film in which he is the star and
which he had never had the opportu-
n;tv of seeing since its production
He is now playing in Baltimore.
Some of the stage jokes that
Thought Rogers under the white
house ban run like this Rogers, ir
tbe role of Secretary Hughes, is pre-
siding over a burlesque of the dis
agreement conference" The tee'
nbone at the conference table rings
and wbil tn "dlgats' pause in mag
L.
mary conversation takes place De
tween the president and his seere'
t.rv of state. "You lost BY twt
holes ?" queried Rogers, sympathet
;ca,lv "Well, don't worry we wii