Jacob A. Riis (1849–1914). Theodore Roosevelt, the Citizen. 1904.
Page 289
| one or two of the portraits especially worth seeing. Then he shook hands and bade them come back as often as they pleased. It was clear that they did not know who the friendly man was. When they went out he came straight across to the Federal official. |
| “Now, Mr.—,” he said, shaking his finger at him, “the legislature has appropriated every cent it is going to this year for good roads, and nothing you can say will change their minds or mine on that subject. So you can save yourself the trouble. It is no use.” And, turning to my friend, “Do you wish to see me?” But his amazement was so great that he said no, making up his mind on the spot to talk to the Governor’s secretary. The official had gone away at once. |
| I recommend this anecdote to the special perusal of the friends who think Roosevelt is playing to the galleries when he hails the plain man cordially. He does it because he likes him. They might have seen him one day in an elevated car, when we were riding together, get up to give his seat to a factory-girl in a worn coat. I confess that I itched to tell her who he was, but he let me have no chance. |