Evening star., 1901-03-04

vice reform a possibility, it may be salt
that ~Nr ROOSeVelt'S vigorous courage rem
dered this reform permanent and unassail
able.
Head of the Police DGard.
After retiring from the civil service com
mission, Mr.. Roosevelt. in 1880 became
president of the board of police commission
ers of New York city. His administration
of this office was conspicuous for its Vigor
its drastic reforms and the enforcement OF
the law against vice and corruption Inc
police force was regenerated and the cor
ruption and'open violation of the law, whlcf
had been a disgrace TO the city tor years
was checked. He impressed his personality
upon the municipal affairs, and the word re
form drew from him a meaning other thar
mere agitation.
When, in 1897. he resigned from the New
York police force and became assistant sec
retary of the navy, new field of useful
ness to the public service was opened tC
him. His presence was Immediately felt II
the department. Red tape was brushed
aside and Mr.. Roosevelt showed himself tC
be the man, not the bureaucrat. Associated
with the Secretary, a man of very high or
der of ability, there was no check upon hi:
freedom of action within his own sphere
and the effect Of this freedom was soon felt
The accomplishment of result was his frs
aim, and he soon inspired the men about
him with the spirit of energy and freedom
of thought and action.
Timely Naval Preparations.
In this position he disclosed more clearly
than occasion had revealed before his fore
sight and the statesmanlike quality of an,
ticipating and preparing for the future. II
may truthfully be said that 1t was largely
due to him, with the sympathetic approval
Of Secretary Long, that the United States
ma wa in m Il
tinguished services which mark its his
tory in the war with Spain. One of the
first things which Mr.. Roosevelt directed
his attention on coming to the department
was the provision for target practice anC
the supplying of all the vessels in the ser
vice with abundant ammunition. There haC
been false spirit Of economy in the mat
ter Of ammunition, in Difference to Gema
gogy in Congress. Mr.. Roosevelt realized
that the welfare of the country would de-
pend upon our navy being properly pro-
vided for and upon the craftsmanship dis
played. Men in Congress were shocked by
a recommendation of $4,000 for ammuni-
ton, followed a few months later by a re-
quest for 100000 more very soon after he
entered the department. This was regard
ed by some of the congressional economist
as such willful extravaganza that man OF
less vigor than Roosevelt would have
abandoned his purpose. But ROosevel
fought for this as he fights for everything
in which. he believes.
Supplies for Men Behind the Guns,
He got the necessary ammunition and df
rected the commanders Of vessels to see
that practice in gunnery was persisted II
regardless of the expense involved. Dew
eys Asiatic squadron was but moderately
supplied with ammunition at that time, ant
able opposition, succeeded IN having that
squadron furnished with what seemed t
the bureaucrats a needless abundance. TIL,
men behind the guns and the readiness o.
cur vessels far removed from home an(
cut off from opportunity Of procuring sup
plies testify TO the wisdom and fore
thought as well as to the civic courage o.
Mr.. Roosevelt in Drawing the charge o.
extravaganza to accomplish what he knew
to be necessary.
The Rough Rider Record.
If the campaign at Santiago had never
been fought and the Rough Riders had wor
no place in history, Mr.. Roosevelt would
still be known for his courage. patriotism
and his strenuous eXertion for the accom-
plishment of manly purposes. The record Of
the Rough Riders is known TO the world
and the Rough Riders were Roosevelts own
Mr.. Roosevelt resigned his position as as
sistant secretary Of the navy when. the
Spanish war broke out to seek more activ
service for his country in the field. To
gether with Colonel Wood, then surgeon
In the army, who was his warm persona
friend and companion in many vigorous
tests of strength and endurance, Mr.. Roose
welt organized a cavalry regiment composed
chiefly of cowboys and others accustomed
to rough frontier life.
By his own choice. recognizing that hi
friend Colonel Wood had greater technica
military knowledge than himself Mr.
Roosevelt insisted upon taking second plac
In the regiment instead of first, Wood be
ing appointed colonel and he, Roosevelt
lieutenant colonel. This regiment won grea
fame. conspicuously at San Juan. in tn
campaign of Santiago. After the battle o
San Juan hill, the country rang with tn
name of Roosevelt. At the close of tn
Spanish war the popularity of Roosevelt
who had retired from the army as colone
of the regiment. throughout the country
was that of a hero. He was elected gov
ernor of New York after a hotly-conteste,
campaign, making extraordinary inroad
upon the democratic vote In its principa
strongholds.
AS the time approached for the nomina
lion of President and Vice President, 1t be
ing assured that there would be no opposi
ton to the denomination of President Nc
Kinley, there was an almost universal de
mand that Roosevelt should go on tn
| ticket with him as Vice President. Mr.
| Roosevelt repeatedly announced that h
was not canCldate Tor the nomination
| and even went so far as to announce h
| would not accept. Yet when the republican
national convention met at Philadelphi;
| there was the utmost enthusiasm, and tn
| convention would not agree to the nomina
/ tion OF any other. He carried his resist
| ance to the limit of what a man might dc
| but the nomination was forced upon him.
| Having accepted he entered into the cam
paign with the viSor and ability character
istic of him. The candidate FOR Fi@ss0en,
| being already I'm the White House, felt tina
| he could not with propriety participate ac
1 lively In speaking campaign; therefor
| the burden of the canvass fell upon IN
| shoulders Of the candidate for Vice PresI