The Mena star., 1898-11-16
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT NOW
The Colonel of the "Rough Riders
AS Successful in Peace as In
War Brief History.

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, whose
election as governor of the great state
of New York last week attracted such
universal attention. is almost certain
to be prominent candidate for the
presidency of the United States in the
near future. Under normal circum-
stances it was claimed that the party
in opposition to him had a majority OF
nearly 100, 900 votes. This of itself
shows the strength of tho mana man
who in years OF public life has shown
himself as incompatible and worthy OF
the admiration of all true men. On
account of his present prominence in
public life, and the likelihood that he
will rise much higher as a leader in
the nation, the following, taken from
the Kansas City Star. will be inter
esting reading:
ROOSEVELT THE CITIZEN.
Theodore Roosevelt, more than any
man in public life, must be considered
not as politician, but a remarkable
character lie might have advanced
rapidly in any path he chose, whether
it led to brilliant social success or the
making Of a large fortune That he
chose career OF public sers ice is char
acleristic OF the man, the more SO that
he saw in the course he mapped out
for himself small chance of pecuniary
gain. Once decided he never swerved
from his course. For nearly fifteen
the public as an aggressive politician.
He was bearly ~ years of age when,
in 1881, he became IA candidate for the
Legislature ana ,".;is elected 10 the as
semby, where he served three years.
Ills work at Albany was characterized
by an independent fearIessness. He
pushed through the Legislature sever
al reform measures, directed mainly
against the corrupt practices of the
Democracy in the state and in New
York city, whch was then overwhelm.
ingly Democratic.
Roof evelt attracted notice as hunt
err of big game. Enthusiastically
enough, small game has no attraction
for him. and it is doubtful whether he
ever shot rabbit Only when the
beast has some chance against the
hunter does sport appeal TO him, and,
naturally enough the game that
seemed most to his taste was the
grizzly bear of the Rockies, that III
carnation of strength, fury and cum
ming. When Mr.. Roosevelt arrived in
the Rocky mountain country and an
nnunced his intention of tracking the
grizzly bear the toughs OF the region
up" He was a tenderfoot One of
them went SO far as to send a message
10 Roosevelt to the effect that IL he
proceeded to track the grizzlies there
would be shooting. Upon receipt of
the message Roosevelt inquired where
this person with the propensity for
shooting lived, and rode at once to his
camp. The man, however. had for
gotten why he wanted to shoot. That
incident put an end to any inclination
10 treat Roosevelt as tenderfoot, and
before the hunting campaign was end
ed he had won the respect of all those
rough men of the plains. and when
the time came many of those were
among the mo t eager to follow him
into the jungles of Cuba
In 1889, Roosevelt was appointed
United States civil service commissions
er by President Harrison. His fear
lessness caused President Cleveland to
retain him in office when the latter
became executive second time. Mr..
Roosevelt resigned as civil service
commissioner in 1895 to accept the ap-
pointment of police commissioner of
New York.
Mr.. Roosevelt began by saying what
he meant He told the police they
must be honest; that il they were not
they would suffer for it, and that If
they we're they need fear no man and
no organization. Mr. Roosevelt re-
peated this daily; he declared the idea
daily in the newspapers, in speeches,
In magazine articles. in talks to the
men. The police simply laughed at
him. No matter. the president made
sure that his platform was known. the
promise and the threat Then he took
steps to prove it. He must have