The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-10-11

ROC sEvELT
STATESMAN. SOLDIER AND MAN OF
ACTION.
Cause of the Admiration In which
He Is Held in the Vest
Courageous Acts Are His
Convictions.

by r. P. Clarkson, of the Des Moines
Register Des Moines, Iowa.
Theodore Roosevelt has the affection
Of the people of the Western states.
Each step in his career is watched and
followed with a depth of interest only
accorded those who have a fixed place
In our hearts. In thus establishing
himself with the Western people, in his
life in the West and as leader OF the
Rough Riders during the war with
Spain, he came into what was his own.
He has within him the qualities which
are possessed and admired in the rug
ged West and he has them in such a
degree as to naturally make him q
leader loved of all.
Roosevelt is man of action. He is
direct, honest and courageous. He Is
practical and resourceful and proves
himself the master of every situation
in which he is placed With intelligent
and well directed effort he surmounts
every obstacle barring the way to
achievement of desired ends. And
withal he does not stoop or cringe, but,
respecting others, he compels respect
for himself. OF such stuff are made
the men who have advanced the West
to its present position of power and In
1uence. These qualities in combina-
ton have wrought the greatness OF the
West, have brought material wealth
and prosperity to it's homes and made
its voice controlling power in the
halls of national council and legisla-
ton.
The West claims Theodore Roosevelt
He is the favorite son of Nebraska, OF
Kansas, of Colorado, of the Dakotas
and Montana-we might even say of
Texas. He is the favorite son of all
the Western people whose hearts have
been warmed to him by his daring,
courage, skill and patriotism. The rug-
ged honesty, answering integrity of
purpose and intelligent activity which
marked the career of Roosevelt as civil
service commissioner, as police COM
missioner of New York, and as assist
ant secretary of the navy, had COM
mended him to the people of the West
ern states as a man worthy of the
highest trusts His course after the
declaration of war with Spain fully re-
V6dl6O Min u lUc "CStCIh pS'piS az
their exemplar and prototype.
Roosevelt was active in the depart
ment of the navy at Washington, but
he craved the activity of the field. He
sought opportunity to give play and
exercise to those hardy accomplish
ments acquired in the West. Roose-
welt knew himself; he was conscious
of his capacities and limitations. OF
horsemanship he was a master. OF
men he was leader. OF daring and
love Of manly adventure he had his
share He was acquainted with the
methods Of the navy department at
Washington. He was deficient in tech
nical military education, but he sought
a field where he could find full play for
his accomplishments and took posi-
ton in command where no man would
suffer a single discomfort or added dan
ger by lack of his military training.
He organized the regiment of Rough
Riders Col. Wood an old officer, was
first in command and Roosevelt was
second Not many moons had passed
until Teddy" was as thoroughly
trained soldier and officer as there
was in the military establishment.
By the time the regiment of Rough
Riders left their rendezvous at San
Antonio to go to the front, every MEM
Der of it was en- rapport with the gall
liant lieutenant colonel. A thousand
men from many different states, from
all walks of life, and from every grade
of society had within few short weeks
been knit together in close, harmo-
NOUS and effective fighting organiza-
ton. Where in history can be found
a parallel to this?
Through the weeks of drill, on the
way to the front, on the field of battle,
Roosevelt looked after the welfare of
his men and exacted of every man his
duty. When the fighting was over he
brought his men. home and, in taking
leave of them at Mentauk, he gave
them heartfelt advice in speech that
will never be forgotten. His words on
that occasion but revealed the man and
the mainsprings of his own strenuous
existence. There is no man in the
United States whose actions more thor
oughly accord with his spoken words.
4 Theodore Roosevelt cannot rest on
duty done or laurels won. With him
life is not lived until the last day is
uOIlG. olily lnNiCSo "
preparation for other fields of useful
ness This is the best Western spirit.
1t is the spirit that is building our
cities, laying our railroads, sinking
mines in our mountains and reaping
and marketing our great harvests.
Theodore Roosevelt is not alone popu-
lar in the West for what he has done,
but he is popular for what he is and
for what he will do, for the uncon-
querable spirit that stirs and moves
within him.
Since the Spanish war Roosevelt has
moved steadily forward in a new field
of responsible civic duties. By his adj
ministration of the affairs of the State
of New York he has increased his fame
as we'll rounded statesman. The boys
whom he led up San Juan Hill are
watching his course with affectionate
pride. They and their fathers and
brothers and friends are for him for
vice president, just as they would be
for him for president were he running
for that Office of mans highest ambi-
ton. He has demonstrated his capacity
and they know him thoroughly, SO their
hats are off for him.
The great West admires and treas
ures Col Roosevelt because of the
chivalrous courage and steadfast en-
deavor by which he has become a
leader Of men-whether on the trails
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