Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-10-04
26h PRESIDENT of the u. S.

me afterward that the man had come
to him with what he said was certain
knowledge that his enemy could that
night be found In a known evil house up
town, which it was his alleged habit to
visit. His proposition was to raid it then
and so get square," To the policeman it
must have seemed like throwing a good
chance away. But 1t was not Roosevelt's
way: he struck no blow below the belt
In the governors chair afterward he gave
the politicians whom he fought, and who
fought him, the same terms. They tried
their best to upset him. for they had
nothing to expect from him. But they
knew and owned that he fought fair.
Their backs were ere secure. ,,,1 he never
promise given by him was always kept
to the letter.
Assssfonf Secretary Of ~ovy.
Early in 1897 he was called by Presi-
dent Mckinley to give up his New
York office to become Assistant-Secre-
tary of the Navy. His energy and
quick mastery of detail had much to
do with the speedy equipment of the
navy for its brilliant feats in the war
with Spain. It was he who suggested
Admiral Dewey for commander of the
Asiatic station.
Dewey was sometimes spoken OF In
those days as if he were KIND OF
/, fashion-plate. Roosevelt, however, nao
| faith in him, and while walking up
Connecticut avenue one day said 10
Mr.. Riis: Dewey Is all right. he mas
| a lion heart. He is the man 1or the
place." No one now doubts the WIS.,
| dom of his selection, and naval oHlcers
agree that the remarkable skill In
Workmanship displayed by the Amer
lean gunners was due to his foresight
| He saw the necessity of practice, anu
he thought it the best kind OF economy
to burn up ammunition in acquiring
skill.
A characteristic story is told regard
ing Roosevelt's insistence on practice
/, in the navy
Shortly after his appointment he
asked for an appropriation of 100000
for ammunition. powder, and shot tor
the navy. The appropriation was
made. and a few months later he asked
for another appropriation, this time
of s5O0,OOO. When asked by the proper
authorities what had become of the
first APPROXIMATION, he replied: Every
cent of it was spent for powder and
shot, and every bit of powder and shot
has been fired" When he was asked
what he was going to do with the $780,
900, he replied: Use every ounce of
that, too, within the next thirty days
| in practice shooting"
His Cuban GEAR Record.
Soon after the outbreak of the war,
however, his patriotism and love of
active life led him to leave the compar-
ative quiet of his government office for
service in the field. AS a lieutenant
colonel of volunteers he recruited the
First Volunteer Cavalry, popularity
known as the Rough Riders" The
men were gathered largely from the
cowboys of the west and southwest,
but also numbered many college-bred
men of the east In the beginning he
was second in command, with the rank
of Northumberland, DR.. Leonard
Wood being colonel. But at the close
of the war the latter was brigadier-
general and Roosevelt was colonel IN
command. Since no horses were trans
ported to Cuba, this regiment, togeth-
er with the rest of the cavalry, was
Obliged to serve on foot. The Tegi-
ment distinguished itself In the San
tiago campaign, and Colonel Roosevelt
became famous for his bravery in lead
ing the charge up San Juan Hill on
July LIST. He was an efficient officer.
and won the love and admiration of his
| men. His care for them was shown
by the circulation Of the famous round
robin which he wrote protesting
| against keeping the army longer in
| Cuba.
As Gouernor Of Metz York.
Upon Roosevelt's return to New
York there was a popular demand for
his nomination for governor. Pre-
vious to the state convention he was
| nominated by the Citizens Union, but
| he declined. replying that he was a
Republican. The Democrats tried to
Illustrate his nomination by attempting
to prove that he had lost his legal resi-
dence in that state. That plan failed