St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-09-18

navy. Colonel Roosevelt was nominal
ed by President Mckinley on April g.
1897. On April II he rendered his resig-
nation as police commissioner to Mayor
Strong of New York city.
From the very first Roosevelt fore
saw the possibility of a conflict with
Spain, and he set about preparing his
department for it. He pushed repairs
on the ships, he worked with might
and main for the navy personnel bill
and visited the various naval reserves
throughout the country. He left moth
ing undone, In fact, that would secure
the highest efficiency in the service
when the time for action came. 1t Is
an open secret that he it was who first
realized the tremendous opportunity
that the war would open in the east
and who had Dewey, in whom he rec
ognlzed the right man for the place,
appointed to command the eastern
squadron. And naval officers agree
that the remarkable skill In marks
mansbip displayed by the American
gunners was due to hts foresight. He
saw the necessity of practice, and he
thought 1t the best kind of economy to
burn up ammunition in acquiring skill.
A characteristic story Of the truth
Of which there is no doubt, Is told re-
garding Roosevelt's insistence on prac-
tice In the navy. Shortly after his ap-
pointment he asked for an appropria-
ton Of 100000 for ammunition, pow
der and shot for the navy. The APP
preparation was made, and a few
months later he asked for another ap-
preparation, this time of 100000.
When asked by the proper authorities
what had become of the first appro-
priation, 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 100000, he
replied, use every ounce of that, too,
within the next thirty days in practice
shooting" When the Maine was blown
up, Mr.. Roosevelt had no doubt that
WIFI would follow and that shortly, and
his energies were bent with redoubled
force to getting the navy ready. When
war did finally break out, Mr.. Roose-
welt was for rushing matters, for TAX
ing Havana at once and debating
terms from there.
ROosevelt's Rough Riders.
Naturally enough, Roosevelt would
not be content to sit behind a desk
while there was fighting going on. He
submitted his resignation to the presi-
dent on April 16 and tried to get an ap-
pointment upon General Lees staff.
Then came the rough rider idea, the
seventh phase Of Roosevelt's career,
hardly thought of before it twas realized.
"Roosevelts rough rider" something
in the ALTERATION of the name struck
the popular fancy, and the regiment
became famous before 1t was organ
lied. Roosevelt had had some military
experience as a captain in the Eighth
regiment, but not enough, In his esti
nation, to fit him to command regi-
ment In time Of war, and he modestly
took the second place and was content
to learn from his friend, DR.. Wood.
1t is hardly necessary to recount the
history Of the rough riders from the
time they were organized in San An
out at Camp Wikoff-to recall the jun
gle fight of Las Guasimas and the
bloody charge at San Juan Hill. The
tale is still on every ones lips. But it
is worth while to recall the remarkable
influence Roosevelt's personality had
over his men, an influence that welded
a thousand or more independent cow
punchers, ranchers and athletes into
fighting machine you've got to per.
form without finching whatever duty
is assigned you regardless Of the diff
Guilty or danger attending it. No mat
ter what comes you mustn't squeal."
These words Of Roosevelt's became al
most a religion with his men. "To do
anything without finching and not to
squeap was their aim, and to hear
the colonel say Bully" was reward
enough.
Governor. Vice President, President.
Colonel Roosevelt returned to the
United States to find that he was al
ready talked Of as the next governor of
New York But his regiment, which
he had "breathed and eaten with for
three months" was still on his hands,
and he had no time for anything but it..
Not until he became a plain citizen on
Sept. 10 would he talk of politics, and
then he found the tide of events bear
ing him along inevitably and irresisti-
bly,.
The eighth stage Of Roosevelts ca
reer began with his assumption of the
office Of governor of New York state
and the ninth with his Inauguration as
vice president of the United States
March 4, 1901.
A tenth phase is just opening for him
as the chief executive of the greatest
nation in the world.
President Roosevelt's ancestry and
his rearing and education, coupled with
an excessively aggressive nature, mani.
tested Enthusiastically even in his very
early boyhood, seemed to presage fol-
him more than ordinary career.
ROOsevelt's Ancestry.
Theodore Roosevelt was born Oct. ~
1858, in his fathers house, % East
r'yvontioAh ctroot in Nov, Vo,,I, o;+v r,