Evening star., 1934-10-28
ROOSEVELT GOING
HOMEFORvOT|N
Southern Tour to Follow
Trip to Hyde Park
This Week End.
BY FRANCIS M. STEPHENSON,
Associated Press Stan Correspondent.

Associated Press stan Correspondent.
President Roosevelt, called by his
friends the Happy Traveller" Is head
ing late this week on a ballot-casting
trip to Hyde Park. N. Y, as q prelude
to another one Of the journeys, this
time into the Southland. that are rap
idly giving him an intimate picture
Of the Nation.
Mr.. Roosevelt likes to 20 among the
people and he feels 1t a duty to know
the country, particularly the many
vast public works projects.
In two years since election he has
almost ecltpSed presidential travelling
records. set by President Taft. He
has visited 26 States, Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands, Panama Canal Zone
and Hawaii for total Of approx
mately 10000 miles.
Favors Trips By Water.
AS a boyhood sailor he favors the
water and has cruised the Atlantic and
Pacific. But, as on his forthcoming
trip In November to the Tennessee
valley and Georgia, he more often Is
forced to travel by special train.
Unlike other Presidents he Is on the
rear platform at almost every stop
during the day and early night. And
ne usually has a word to say to the
folks gathered about the train.
Once aboard his special car, Mr..
Roosevelt takes a seat in the rear
lounge or observation parlor. Here
he reads and carries on his confer
ences with the officials who accom-
pany him.
But the conferees are frequently
surprised as the President diverts to
give quick wave to a workman along
the track. They all know 1t Is the
presidential train passing and are
watching. He doesn't miss many Of
them.
Aboard ship-almost always a Navy
Vessel-he Is as sea-minded as the
captain himself. He watches the
charts and consults on the course and
speed. He talks the language. He Is
as good deep-water man as the best
OF them and proved 1t on his cruise
up the rocky New England Coast q
year ago.
Likes Plenty Of Speed.
He likes speed both on land and
sea. I vividly recall the drive at 1s
knots through the churning waters of
Cape Hatteras last Summer at the
start OF his trip to Hawaii. Waves
we're washing over the DESTROYER
carrying newSpapermen trailing the
presidential cruiser. We we're bobbing
about like cork in a high sea.
Mr.. Roosevelt apparently was OBJ
serving and sent back a message that
ne would slow down If we wanted.
We wanted, but wouldn't say so. ON
GERS on the cruiser reported his pleas
ure when we wireleSsed back we
could take it."
travelling by motor he always uses
an open car. In crossing the country
ne likes to leave the train for side
motor trips. This is somewhat UNIQUE
in presidential travel. 1t is arduous.
particularly to those eating the dust
IN the cars behind, but it gives him
nrst-hand picture Of the country.
BY this method last Summer in re-
turning from the Pacific Coast he
personally inspected new water prof.
ects being constructed on the Co.
lumbia, Missouri and Mississippi
Rivers. He kept the engineers on
these developments busy with ques-
tions.
New Business Plentiful
A day on his special train Is much
like day in the White House. There
is always new business and usually
the President has with him Govern
ment officers most concerned with
the immediate problem Of the day.
Telephones are frequently employed at
stops on emergency questions.
Marvin H. Mcintyre or Stephen T.
Early Of his secretarial staff are al
ways along.
He is available to newspaper men.
or all talks aboard train, probably
the most memorable one was that day
after the Miami, Fla, shooting in
February, 1882. Mr.. Roosevelt. back
on the rear lounge, told his story-and
then newsmen persuaded him to let
1t be printed in the first person. II
was the of1cial story and a thrilling
one. He knows news as well as he
likes to travel.