The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-22
RoosEvELr.s Personal SAFETY.

The determination of the president, in
dicated several days ago, to dispense with
everything like a personal bodyguard, is
Indicative of leading characteristic of
the man. The stories which are now
afloat of possible attempts on his life
bring into greater prominence the atti-
tude which Mr.. Roosevelt takes on the
subject of his personal safety.
The spirit shown by the successor to
the victim of an assassins bullet will
receive the highest measure of appre-a
citation from the American people. 1t is
in line with the principle that an Ameri-
can official, however high, should not go
around attended by those charged with
the safety of his person, and, that with
in proper limitations the president Of
this people Should always be accessible
purposes.
There is the danger, however, that
from this spirit may arise a disposition
to overlook reasonable precautions OF
course Roosevelt, the man, is looked
upon as peculiarly able to take care of
himself in anything like personal phys
ical struggle, and in that Sense a per-
sonal bodyguard would be. of very
little practical value in securing his safe
ty. But there is always the danger that
some half-crazed person may act upon
A.,
position must always be counted on and,
so far possible, guarded against.
No man who has been brought into
general public notice for any extended
period but has experience of the DISPOSE
ton of the morbid members of society
to concern themselves inordinately about
him and his movements All such men
are bothered by .eranks in one direction
or other; and, standing in the light of
the deplorabIe assault on Mr. Mckinley,
President Roosevelt is for the present at
least much more likely to be annoyed by
the advances of such persons than Will
be the case later in his career as presi-
| ficient experience in this general direc-
ton to understand fully the wisdom or
unwisdom of the policy of dispensing
with all personal protection
The most urgent requirement of the
present in this general direction is that
the system of universal Misunderstanding
with the president shall be brought to an
end. During his stay in Minneapolis re-
Gently Mr.. Roosevelt had public. recep-
ton extended to him under the auspices
of the Commercial club of that city. 1t
was conducted under the system of per-
sonal Invitation, and those who were re-
ceived by the then vice president were
personally known to the officers or man
ayers of the club. This is a reasonable
public undertaking. Such an occasion as
death there is no longer any justification
for whatever. It is Impossible to guard
against the advance of another CzoIgosz
on such an occasion; and moreover, such
occasions constitute something of an In
centive to just such deeds by hon1icidal
eranks of one kind or other
/ President Roosevelt in this matter has
acted in accordance with the popular idea
| Of the true attitude of an American exec
utfve. His decision sustains The tradi-
lions and usages. of our free system. and
is on principle entitled to approval But
such an attitude on his part certainly
ought not to be allowed to operate to pre-
vent all necessary precautions being TAX
en- on public occasions especially for the
safety of the chief executive.