Gilpin observer., 1901-10-10

nor BLACK. Inc campaign LHTouRHouC
the state was spirited. Roosevelt took
the stump and delivered many
speeches. His plurality was 1S.079.
AS the campaign of 1900 drew near,
the popular demand that Roosevelt's
name should be on the National Re-
publican ticket grew too imperative
to be ignored by the leaders. Tie
honor of the nomination for Vice-Pres-
ident was refused time and time again
by Roosevelt, who felt that he had a
great duty to perform as governor OF
New York state.
Says Cal O'Laughlin. apropos OF the
Republican National Convention,
which was held in Philadelphia on
June 10, 20 and 81, 1900:
Nomination at PbiIodeiobfo.
On the evening of the first day of the
convention, Roosevelt saw Platt. MY
name must not be presented to the con-
yention," he told him. Platt was mad,
and mad clean through: but he acquiesced
and Roosevelt returned to his apartment
to run into the arms of the Kansas dele-
cation. I'VE do not request you TO ac-
cept the nomination" said State Senator
Burton: I'VE do not urge you to accept
the nomination, but we propose TO issue
orders to you and we expect you to OBEY
them" Throughout the delivery OF MT.
Burton's remarks. Roosevelt stood, with
shoulders square and feet at right angles,
his chin occasionally shooting forward,
as IL he were on the point of objectng 10
the argument that he alone could rescue
bleeding Kansas from demagogism ana
populism. But he waited patiently until
the address was ended, and then appealed
to the Kansans to take his words at their
face value. and vote for some one of the
candidates. But his appeal was useless.
for Senator Burton. grasping his hand,
congratulated him '.in advance upon his
nomination and election" and the dele
cation enthusiastically approved the SEN
timents So certain was Kansas that
Roosevelt would be the choice of the con-
vention. that it had printed huge plac-
ard. bearing the words in large. black
type:
KANSAS DELEGATION
FIRST TO DECLARE FOR
GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT"
And. when the nomination was declared
to have occurred. triumphantly carried it
about Convention Hall.
After his nomination, Roosevelt
said:
1 held out as long as could I had to
give In when 1 saw the popular sentiment
of the convention. 1 believe it is my duty.
Now that 1t is all over 1 want to say that
l appreciate fully the sentiment which
accompanied my nomination. The unan-
unity and enthusiasm of the convention
for my nomination never will be forgot
ten by me.
During the political campaign which
followed, he travelled 16.1O0 miles.
flashed through 23 states. delivered 459
speeches. containing 100000 words,
and made his appeal directly to l.
100000 persons.
His Capacity for Work.
Mr.. Riis says that the thing that be-
clouds the judgment of his critics is
Roosevelt's amazing capacity for work
He says:
He can weigh the pros and cons of
case and get at the meat of it in less
time than it takes most of us to state
the mere proposition. And he is surpris-
ingly thorough. Nothing escapes him.
His judgment comes sometimes as
shock to the man of slower ways. He
does not stop at conventionalities II a
thing is right, II is to be done-and right
away. II was notably so with the round
robin in Cuba, asking the government to
recall the perishing army when it had
won the fight People shook their heads,
and talked of precedents. Precedents, 1t
has been Roosevelt's business to make
them most of his time. But is there any,
one today who thinks he set that one
wrong? Certainly no one who with me
saw the army come home. 1t did not
come day too soon. Roosevelt is no
more infallible than the rest of us. Over
and over again l have seen him pause
when he had decided upon his line of ac-
tion, and review II to see where there
was a chance for mistake. Finding none
he would issue his order with the sober
comment: There. we have done the best
We could. II there is any mistake we will
make 1t right. The fear of 1t shall not de-
ter us from doing our duty. The only
man who never makes a mistake is the
man who never does anything"
EnforcinS The LotO
Referring to- Roosevelt's strict en-
forcement of the Sunday excise law.
the San Francisco Argonaut's New
York correspondent, "Flaneur," wrote
under date of September 2. 1895:
| The law is not n Republican law It
| was passed by Tammany, as a means or
| blackmailing saloonkeepers who refused
| to yield up tribute. 1t is Democratic
| law, was introduced at the instigation OF
Tammany. was passed by Democratic
legislature. and was signed by a Demo-
cratic governor, David Il. Hill. Senator
Hill Is now trying to make political cap
ital by abusing Roosevelt for enforcing
the law. but he places himself I'm n very
questionable position. When n man Is
the leader of n party in a state when his
| party passes an excise law. and when he
himself signs II as governor, he certainly
stultifies himself when. to embarrass n
political opponent. he fights against the
enforcement OF the very law which he
himself passed. The opponents of en.orc-
ing the law are having n rather hard
time. Nobody denies that the law exists
all that they say Is that 1t Is "a hardship
to enforce IT." But who is to decide on
the relative severity or mildness OF the
laws? Commissioner Roosevelt himself
frankly says that he does not believe in
such n severe Sunday law. but as 1t Is the
law. he Is going to enforce It. And no
Is certainly doing so. There Is u good
deal OF humor In the American people,
and In this great city there are many
thousands who are smiling sardonicuily
over the plight OF Tammany caused by