The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-18
..soBtRtp sy RESPONSIBLE l1lts."

The Washington Star has eviden'i!
grown tired Of hearing expressions Vi
surprise at the prudent and cohsis'eii'
course pursued by the president since Ike
took the reins of government. unaoie
longer to control it's impatience. the o'a'
breaks in upon the comments OF t"e
press as follows:
1t is observed in quarters not hereto
fore friendly to Mr.. Roosevelt that ne IS
already showing III the presidency tne
SOLDERING effects OF high official respon"
sibility. His message is described as
surprise because of its conservative tohe'
There seems to have been the eXpecta-
ton OF "a document bristlins Win as-
gressiveness toward the outside world
and threatening the turning up OF Jack
here at home. But really. upon what
was this expectation founded:
Upon Mr.. Roosevelt's record as ciVli
service commissioner? He did nothing
reckless in that office. but much that
was wise and for the good Of the cause
Upon his record as police commissioner
in New York? He shook up the force
there from top TO bottom. but it was
universally admitted that he did his
work admirably, and that the city and
the force itself greatly benefited. When
he went to the navy department it was
freely predicted that he and Mr.. Long
would pull together at the furthest about
a month. The one was represented as
all impetuousness and impracticability
and the other all soberness and calcuia-
ton. The two men got along ike
brothers and the secretary Surrendered
his assistant to the army With the great
est reluctance. When Mr.. Roosevelt put
on his shoulder straps. there were those
who shuddered for his regiment and his
superior officer. They did not doubt that
there would be mutiny in camp and
that the second in command of the
rough riders would head it. He proved
instead a good soldier, and was both
brave and efficient.
Why then. this comment as if wild
man had entered the white house two
months ago and been tanned there? AS
a matter of fact, is not the change in
his critics. and not in Mr.. Roosevelt !?
He has always been an aggressive man.
out of the ordinary in his carriage ana
methods. and this has invited specula ton
and no little caricature. 1t has grown
to be custom to refer to him as j
fighter, always on the half-cock and
spelling for a row. Much Of this was
simply good fooling by the cartoonist $
and the newspaper photographers. and
/ some of them handled their topic in =
| way that even Mr.. Roosevelt himself
must have enjoyed. But 1t was no more
than that. and the joke is on those who
took it all seriously. and are now draw
ing their first breath of comfort since
Mr.. Roosevelt became president upon
finding that he is not disposed to use
his office as would a cowboy, and set
out with his revolver drawn to smoke
the United States.
This comment. however. is a good sign
as it shows that even the most bitterly
prejudiced of the presidents former
critics know man when they get the
proper line on him and are WILING To
give him credit when they think he de-
serves it.
Much in the same strain might be
| written concerning men who went from
| the Western states to take positions o.
| responsibility at Washington. Senators
from Western states have managed "a
live down the regulations which in early
days preceded them to the capital Not
one of them appeared clad in buckskin
None executed a war dance before the
president of the senate or hurled his
tomahaWk into the ceiling Roosevelt
has many of the characteristics of sue.
cessful Western men, and, like them he
knows how to direct his energies to tho
best purposes.