The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-09-27


! high honors. During his stay In the
; university he had been editor of The
Advocate. college paper, and gave
particular attention to the study Of his
tory and natural history. He became a
member of the Phi Beta Kappa Greek
letter fraternity.
At the conclusion Of his college
course he went abroad for q year,
spending part of the time in study in
Dresden. His love for athletics led him
to successfully attempt the ascent OF
the Jung Frau and the Matterhorn and
won for him a membership in the AL.
pine club of London. He returned to
New York in 1881 and in the same year
married Miss Alice Lee Of Boston.
Two years later he had the misfortune
to lose his wife and his mother within
a week.
Theodore Roosevelt has been an mr.
dent student Of history from his col
lege days and before lie was twenty.
three years old had entered the field
himself as writer He is an enthu
siastic admirer of Washington, Lincoln
and Grant. On his return from Europe
work he entered the law oi.ice of his
uncle, Robert b. Roosevelt, with the
design OF fitting himself for the bar
He was of too restless n disposition to
find content in such sober calling
and the whole bent OF his mind, as
shown by his reading, his writing and
the effort to do something eXtraordi.
nary, something that would mark him
above his fellows. which had made him
bidder for college championships and
prompted him TO tempt the dangers of
the Swiss mountain peaks, sent him
hurrying into politics before he had
settled down to anything like decp
study Of the law.
HOW lie ENTERTD Politics.
He attended his first primary in 1881
In the TwentT,1irst assembly district
OF New York. 1t was q gathering uf
the class attendant on such occasions,
with little to Charm the ordinary young
mrn OF aristocratic lineage and wealth,
but Theodore Roosevelt lad studied
history with purpose. He knew that
through the primary lei tie way to
political .preferment, and he at once
entered into the battle of politics, in
WAich he was TO prove n gladiator Of
astonishing prowess. routing and ter
rifying his enemies. but often startling
his allies by the originality and reck.
lessness of his methods.
The natural enthusiasm OF young
Roosevelt. his undcniable personal
charm and the swirl Of interest with
which he descended into the arena of
local politics made him friends Oh ev-
cry side in community where leaders
are at high premium. and within a
few months the young college man
was elected to the assembly of the
state from his home district.
His ability and his methods were in
strong evidence at the following ses-
sion OF the legislature. He proved
rallying power for the Republican mi
nority and actually succeeded in pass
ing legislation which the majority sub
mitted to only through fear and which
his own party mahe state would never
have fa'hcred had it been in power.
Mt. Roosevelt was the undisputed lead
er or the Republicans In the assembly
within two months after his election,
and he Immediately turned his attcp-
ton TO the publication Of New York
city. This would have appalled, n man
less determined or more experienced,
Out the young asplrant for n place in
history reck0ned neither with condi-
ions nor prcccdents. His success, con-
sidering the strength OF the combina-
ton against which he was arrayed,
was extraordinary. He succeeded in
securing the passage OF the bill which
deprived the city council of New York
or the power to veto the appointments
or the mayor. n prerogative which had
nullii!cd every previous attempt at re-
form and had made the spoliatiOn Of
the city's Golfers an easy matter in the
time Of Tweed and other bosses.
Mr.. Roosevelt's methods. It was
checrfully predicted by his political
opponents, would certainly result in his
retirement from participation i'm the
state councils Of New York. but this
proved far from the case. AS has hap
peneu In every case since. wherever
Theodore Roosevelt has been thrown
with any class of people, wherever
they have come to know him personal.
ly, he has attracted to himself enthu-
siastic friendship and confidence.
HE APPEAES AS A REFORMER.
lie becamc so popular that not only
was he returned to three sessions of
the assembly but his party in the statc
soon realized Nat hc was one Of the
strongest men. and he was sent to The
Republican national convention of 1894
as chairman Of the New York delega.
ton.
After the convention, to which he
went uninstructed. but In favor Of the
nomination Of Mr.. Edmunds against
James G. Blaine. his health failed. The
deaths Of his wife and mother had been :
n severe shock, for Mr.. Roosevelt Is a !