The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-10-05

In giving every applicant chance to
show what he could do, and treating
him honestly and fairly, regardless of
his nationality, politics, religion or
"pull.'
eve have every country represented
on the police force" he said. Hebrews
working tremendously with Irishmen;
Germans making good records with
Spaniards-in fact, every nationality is
represented almost but the Chinese, and
find the men as a class willing to
give faithful service. When men find
the official in charge of them consist
ent, always keeping his word to the
letter, they will soon begin following
the example set before them.
'Treat a man squarely and you will
get square treatment in return. That
is human nature and sound doctrine,
whether in the police or in any other
department"
Such was the man whom President
Mckinley selected for assistant secre
tary of the navy in April, 1897. He ac-
cepted the position and went to work
on the instant. Before the "old timers"
in the department realized the change,
the assistant secretary, but few days
in the Office, began to astonish them
by his comprehensive mastery Of de-
tails. Presently it was perceived that
he was about the liveliest man in that
part Of Washington. He was every,
where at once, and you could find him
at almost any hour where the compli-
cations were thickest and the problems
most serious.
All the world knows how he prepared
for the war. His experiences among
the big game of the wild west had
impressed him with the necessity of
good craftsmanship. He had found
that you couldn't kill bear unless you
hit the beast, no matter who made the
gun or what political contractor sup,
piled the powder. He had also found
that to become a dead shot one must
practice, and consequently waste pow
der and lead in preliminary education.
So he threw himself into the work
OF hurrying up repairs on ships and
doing thousand things necessary to
prepare for the coming conflict, which
he saw clearly.
1t is declared that he was one Of
the first, if not the first, to fully ap
preciate the gravity of the situation,
and what was imperative to be done
in various parts of the world.
1t has been admitted that but for
Mr.. Roosevelts storming of congress
for appropriations for supplying the
gunners with ammunition for practice
those historic shots from Dewey's
guns that sank the Spanish fleet in
Manila harbor would never have been
fired.
When he asked for the famous $780,
600 appropriation for ammunition, fol-
lowed by 100000 a little later, for the
same purpose, he explained that every
cent Of it was for powder to be shot
away in practicing for the war.
When war finally came Roosevelts
department was we'll prepared for the
conflict. Dewey has testified to the
great service rendered the navy by
Mr.. Roosevelt. In word, he was a
man for the hour, man Of action and
achievement. 1t is said that after the
battle of Manila the little baby ranch
man in the Far West every night, I'm
der his buffalo robes, prayed that God
would bless Mr.. "Git Thar Roosevelt"
When the conflict came Roosevelt
looked around for his spurs, sent in his
resignation and got permission to or
game regiment and 60 to the front.
matter not fully explained to this day
why it was that when there was so
much need of competent men at the
seat Of war these same men had to
fight and storm for an opportunity to
get there. OF course, recruits had to
be drilled and drilled, until they were
in proper condition for executing mill
tary movements to the satisfaction OF
their officers.
1t is also curious fact that Mr..
Roosevelt, but recently powerful Off
cial in THE navy, with friends In all
branches Of the government, should
meet obstacles at every step in his
journey to the seat Of war in securing
transportation and food for his men,
TWAS in these supreme hours, when
impediments doomed up on every side.
that the indomitable will of the man,
the genius that is in him, became ap-
parent to his admiring countrymen.
Roosevelt had the gift Of cutting Cor
dian knots and kicking obstacles out
Of the way, whether incompetent sub
ordinates or barricades of red tape.
And, better than all, he had tact and
enthusiasm and courtesy and good will,
with patriotism that famed into elo
quence and made his men follow him,
shouting and cheering to the finish.
Books would not hold the good
things that have been told of him.
With his bravery every one is familiar.
but his many ldndnesses to the known