The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-14
ViCe-President Roosevelt Succeeds
to Office of Chief Magistrate
of the Nation.
A SKETCH OF HIS PUBLIC CAREER
Mckinley Was in Many Respects Remarkable Man
and For Many Years He Has Been Notable
Figure i'm Public Life
Theodore Roosevelt is President Of the

Theodore Roosevelt is President of the
United States this morning.
BY virtue of his being VicePresdent
he succeeds to the office made vacant
by Mr. McKinley's death.
He was born in the city of New York
October 27, 1858. On his fathers side
he comes of sturdy Dutch stock, Klass
Martensen Roosevelt, who emigrated to
this country from Holland in 1649, being
the first of his ancestors to identify him
self with the vigorous life of the new
world. This worthy progenitor was
among the early settlers of New York
and he brought with him to his colonial
cnce of the typical pioneer. Next in line
of descent on the paternal side came
Nicholas Roosevelt, who achieved some
note in provincial affairs, being at one
time an alderman or what corresponded
in colonial times to this important
functionary in modern municipal poll
tics Then came Jacobus, father and son,
neither of whom achieved any special
distinction. Next in line came James,
who rose to rank of captain in the New
York troops during the revolution and
who was connected with some of the
most distinguished families of the State,
such as the Rogerts, the Schuylers and
the Van Dykes. Then came Cornelius,
who still further enriched the purple
strain of the family's aristocratic lineage
by his marriage to Margaret Barnhill,
whose grandfather Thomas Potts, was an
eminent Scotch-I Irish patriot, who repre-
sentcd Pennsylvania in the continental
congress. Then came Theodore Roose-
volt father of the vice-president.
SO much for the claim of descent on the
paternal side of the house. On the ma
ternal side the traditions of the family
are equally noteworthy and moreover
they connect the Vice President with
some of the most arstocratic blood of the
commonwealth of Georgia. To bring out
this fact clearly it must be stated that
the mother of the younger Roosevelt was
Martha Bulloch, of Roswell, Ca She
was the daughter of James Bulloch and
the grandfather on her mothers side of
General Daniel Stewart, one of Georga's
most i.lustrious revolutionary heroes.
She was also descended on her fathers
side from Archibald Bulloch, the first
governor of this State, and an uncorrupt-
cd old revolutionary patriot of Scotch
Irish extraction, who sprang from the
Douglasses and the Bailies Archibald
Bulloch married Mary de Vaux, whose pa
ternal grandfather fed to this country
from France on the revocation of the
edict of Nantes in 1855. Martha Bulloch
became acquainted with the elder Roose-
welt on one of her frequent visits to New
York, and falling in love with the thrifty
Dutch American merchant-for such he
was-she subsequently became his wife.
Shortly after the formation of this happy
union the younger Roosevelt; who was
destined in later years to become one
of the foremost figures in American
public life was ushered into existence
There are hundreds of people in Georgia
who remember the vice. presidents moth
err well and who cherish many pleasant
recollections of her.
Colonel Roosevelt first became promi-
nent in New York politics as an advocate
of civil service reform. From 1882 to
1884 he was an assemblyman in the New
York legislature and introduced the first
civil service bill which was passed in
1883, almost simultaneously with the
passage OF the celebrated measure in
Congress. On account of his scholastic
and oratorical accomplishments he ad
vanced rapidly to the front in political
life and in 1884 was made chairman of
the New York delegation to the national
Republican convention. Two years later
he experienced his first political reverses,
when he became an independent can
didate for mayor of New York city |
Although he received the Endorsement of
the Republican organization, he was de-
ieated at the polls. In 1889 President |
Harrison appointed him civil service |
commissioner and he served as chair |
man Of the board until 1895. While oc-
cupying this important political position
he was rigid in applying civil service
principles to all executive departments, ,
with the result that during this admins |
tration the number of federal employees
placed under the benefits of this system
was increased from 1900 to 100000 In
1895 Colonel Roosevelt resigned his posi-
ton on the board of civil service commits
sioners to accept the presidency of the
New York board of police commissions
ers, an investigation having shown the
appalling corruption of the New York
police officials. Many drastic and radi-
cal reform measures were put into eff
feet during his administration, with the
result that things We're greatly improved
and complaints became less numerous
and insistent In 1897 Colonel Roosevelt
resigned his position to become as
sistant secretary of the navy under |
President Mckinley. Shortly after as
Stunning the duties of this office he asked |
for an appropriation of 100000 for am
munition for target practice in the navy |
and this request being granted he asked |
for another appropriation of $500, 900 later |
on which was also granted Although |
some doubts were entertained at first as |