The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-11-06
INTERESTING PERSONALITY

Perhaps there has never been man
in the presidential chair with a more in
,erestins personality than Theodore
Roosevelt. Coming to the manifold re
sponsibinues OF chief executive OF the
United States the younges, man who
has ever coupled ,Aa; position. he brings
with him a more comprehensive and
thorough knowledge OF the entire coun-
try. and a greater familiarity with The
afairs Of the different departments Of
the government, than any Of his prede-
esssors.
In the Forum FOR November appears
a character sketch OF the President
which IS a remarkable anaiysis Of the
personality OF this unusually interesting
Individual The writer SAYS:
The world Is always looking for the
dramatic. I; forgets dialogue, but al
ways remembers a tabIeau. The col
onel Of the Rough Riders. watching
his men take their baptism Of blood al
Las Guasimas. leading them up san
Juan hill. sharing with them the 2riva-
tons Of the trenches in front Of Santi-
ago-that was the vivid picture people
could remember OF THEODORE Roosevelt
iThey forgot that with him war was
merely an incident. For few months
he had worn khaki because he had con-
ceived Il his duty to offer his sword to
his country: and with that adaptabilitv
which Is the sixth sense possessed bv
Americans. he had gone about his bust
ness OF soldering as naturally as IL II
were the only business he knew. But
the public forgot that against his few
months Of military experience were the
years he hal spent in learning life. in
studying men and affairs. and in fit
ing himself for government by reallng
and writing history. Roosevelt, the
man on horseback. the beau liaeI of
the cavalry commander, a dashing, su-
per5 figure. one tina; would have d.
lighted the hear, OF Carlyle was real
and viviI enought to catch the emotion
al crowd. Roosevelt the =ssaylst. the
biographar Of Benton and Morris. the
historian Of the West Rooceyel, who
had waged war against Tammany. who
had taken a corrupt. inefficient and
brutal police force and had taught Il
honesty. efficiency and decency; who
had courage9uslv male the civil service
law a thing to be respected instead Of
a thing TO be Knocked at by designing
politlcians-this wac the dialogue Of the
play, 20 be forgotten before the act was
over. but the cllmlx. the Man on Horse
back. was to be remembered long after
the curtain went down.
The policy Of Mckinley has been ac-
cented and indorsed bv the country.
Under that policy there has been pros
perity and conten;ment; the United
States was happy at home and respect
Cd abroad. Mr. Roosevelt made that
policy his own: he made the men who
had helped to construct that policy as
the advisers Of President Mckinley his
OWL advisers Of President Mckinley his
wisdom, but courage and confidence in
himself. A foolish man would have
been Indifferent to the delicate balance
on which at that moment hinged com
merclal solvency, and would have tipped
the scale by tustifying the worst fears
Of the pessimistic; a timd man would
have hesltated, temporizeI, sought
counsel and swung with the latest cur
rent Of advice from selfish and inter-
essed counselors; a man who mistrusted
himself would have feared the ineyi-
table comparison in the eyes Of the
cabine. between Mckinley and himself:
and the cabinet. being close to the Dresi-
dent, would have the best opportunity
to weigh the living against the dead.
That he did not hesitate, that at the
most critical moment Of his life he act
ed with decision and wisdom. and that
he showed himself willing to accept
counsel, were the highest proofs he
could give to the country Of his sin
cerity, bis prudence and his under