The Washington times., 1901-09-14
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

classified service under the protection
of the civil service laws. their scope beils
more than doubled in their scope in fact
1t was said by his friends that he was a
thorough believer in the laws ana IN tnSlr
strict enforcement. ard that ne was the
most successful man that ever served on
the Commission in securing their enforce
ment He had a wide and friendly ac-
quaintance with politicians which helped
him greatly in this regard.
Mr.. Roosevelt was appointed by mayor
Strong. of New York. in 1885 to the position
of president of the board OF police commis-
He occupied this position Viz
orously and attempted numerous reforms.
His work in this position aroused the
hitter enmity of many of the New York
politicians. One of his chief attempts was
toward the enforcement of the Sunday
law.
Mr. Roosevelt resigned as New York
police commissioner to become Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy. In this po-
sition he is said to have done much
to urge on the work Of preparing the
navy for the coming war. 1t is also SAT-
that he commented bitterly at times on
the state of unpreparedness in which he
found the navy.
After the outbreak of the Spanish
American war Mr.. Roosevelt resigned
his position in the Navy Department and
entered the volunteer army.
HIS WAR RECORD.
As a lieutenant colonel he organized
First Volunteer Cavalry, the regi-
ment popularity known as the Rough
Riders" The men were recruited largely
from the cowboys of the far West and
Southwest. but there were also many
young colIege-bred Fasteners and young
men of high social standing, anxious to
see service, who Joined the regiment
Since no horses were transported to
Cuba, this regiment, along with the rest
of the cavalry, was obliged to serve on
foot. Col. (afterward generaD Leonard
Wood was first in command. but was
succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Roose-
Welt. who was promoted to the coloneley.
The regiment served throughout the
campaign, and was conspicuous in the
charge at San Juan Hill in the fight OF
July l.
Upon Colonel Roosevelt's return to New
York there was a popular demand among
Republicans for his nomination for Gov
ernor. Up till about this time the pro-
posed denomination of Governor Black
had met with general approval, for his
had been one of consider
able ability, but the Erie Canal scandal
being disclosed, popular favor deserted
him; it was not sueg egested, however: tnat
the Governor was in any way implicated
in the affair, and all that could be urged
against him was a lack Of sufficient
and perhaps an unwise ap-
pointnient Of officials. The proposed nom
proved by the machine leaders and the
Senator, L. c. Platt. So
strong. however, was the popular support
that by the latter part of August the
leaders were forced TO acquiesce. Pre-
vious to the Republican convention which
met at Saratoga in the latter part of
ST ptember. the Citizens Union, having de-
cided to enter into State politics. nomi-
mated Colonel Roosevelt for Governor, but
he declined, saying that he was Repub-
lican, and that the support of the Admin
istration was paramount to matters of
local Importance.
In September a faction of the opposite
party tried to frustrate his nomination
by endeavoring to prove his ineligibllity.
This they claimed 10 do by showing that
Colonel Roosevelt had lost his legal resi-
6ence in New York State when, in an af
fidavit made in Washington when he was
Assistant Secretary of the Navy he
claimed freedom from taxation in New
York City on the ground that his resi-
dence was in Washington AT the Repub-
lican convention Elihu Root. now Sec
rotary of War, declared that Colonel
Roosevelt had constantly maintained
in New York State.
The convention nominated Colonel
Roosevelt on September q by vote of
l53 against 2lS for Governor Black. The
platform adopted endorsed the national
platform of 1885, declaring for the. gold
approving President Mckinleys
and favoring the propo
sition of territorial expansion: 1t further
the Dfngley tariff law, the an
nexatIon of Hawaii. and the administra-
ton of Governor Black, and maintained
that the issues of the campaign were ma
tionai and not local.
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.
Colonel Roosevel.'s opponent was Judge
Augustus Van Wyck, of Brooklyn, who
was nominated on September 20. at the
Democratic convention in Syracuse. The
throughout the State was spir-
tied -r5
II looked as though defeat were ahead
of Mr.. Roosevelt. and he was bitterly dis
appointed. But he soon remembered
that. if defeat had to come, it was dis
tant a month or more and that In the
meantime there was chance for a fight
That cheered him up. He went to Benja-
min Il. Odell. the Chairman of the Re
publican State Committee. and asked to
be allowed to stump the State. Mr.. Odeil
did not like the idea. A candidate who
goes about making speeches Is apt to say
something which Will hurt somebody's
feelings and give the other party a chance
district leaders throughout the State,
however, began to send in reports which
changed Mr.. Odells view. There was
apathy everywhere. and 1t appeared that
personally would have TO win it. for he
alone would be able to warm the rank
and file to enthusiasm. So Mr. Roosevelt
was allowed to go his way.
He stumped the State up and down and
across and zigZag. speaking by day from
the end Of his special train, and at night
at mass meetings, in the towns and cities
A promise OF good government was his
principal theme. Twenty times q day he
referred to the canal scandal. which was
the chief theme of the Democrats, and
he said that he would punish the cOrrup-
tlonists OF the public works department
Naf no hs.l a.
on his appeal to the people to trust him
on account OF his record.
The only special incident of his cam
paign which helped him was the nominal
tton of Judge Joseph +. DAILY to be re-
elected judge of the Supreme Court-and
this had sequel Daily was a Democrat
and had long been on the bench. The
New York bar petitioned both parties to
nominate him, but his own party refused
because Daily bad declined TO remove. at
the request of Richard Croker, a clerk of
good service and abilities, to make way
for friend of the boss, it was said by
the Republicans. Mr. Roosevelt made
very effective use of this as an instance
of the encroachment of the boss power
upon the courts, which last of all should
be touched by any influence that would
diminish public faith in ultimate justice.
Even this, however, was more forcibie in
the city, where Judge DAILY sat, and was
known, and Tammany had the city sure.
in the country, where Mr.. Roosevelt
the glamour of his recent war record that
counted largely
The election. which occurred on No
venber s, resulted in a plurality for
Roosevelt of lS.019. He ran ahead of the
of his ticket. He took the oath
of office for the governorship Of New York
on Sunday. January ], 1899. and was form
ally inaugurated the succeeding day.
AS Governor Of New York Roosevelt
was accused by some OF being too sub
servient to the wishes OF Senator Platt
the Republican party leader, and by his
friends II was said that he always had
his own way. and that when he acted as
Platt wished it was only because his
opinion agreed with that of Mr. Platt
There were minor clashes between these