Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-11-08
TRUSTS THE PEOPLE.
President Roosevelt Is Opposed to
Being Guarded.
Wishes to Walk the streets of Wash
ipGtOn Like Any other Mnn--Isn
Servant of the Public,
Not Ruler.
Especial Washington Letter.l

~ NE of the orders of President
J Roosevelt has been disobeyed,
and it will never be obeyed. The
superintendent of the police force of
the national capital will not permit the
chief executive to go about our streets
unguarded, although President Roose-
welt has distinctly ordered that no
guards shall follow him or precede
him in his walks and drives.
II am free American citizen" said
Mr.. Roosevelt to his secretary of
state, "and | have as much right to
walk the streets of Washington city
now as | had when | was civil service
commissioner and assistant secretary
of the navy. l have as much right to
walk these streets as any common la
borer or merchant prince; and shall
do so without guard. If any assassin
seeks my life 1 only hope that he will
approach me in front, and not attack
me behind my back. l can protect my
self all right"
The secretary of state urged that it
is the duty of a man to guard himself
constantly while he occupies the posi-
people. Mr.. Roosevelt replied: This
is republic and people of all grades
of intellect must sooner or later learn
that the president is not ruler in
any sense of the word. Presidents Lin
coin and Garfield were killed by men
of unbalanced brains. President Nc
Kin!ey was assassinated by an anar-
chist because he was "A ruler j want
people of all classes in this republic
to understand that their president is
not a ruler in any sense of the word.
but in every sense a servant of the
people. When this is thoroughly un-
derstood by all classes it will be inn
possible to induce any man to attack
a president on anarchistic grounds"
Taking that stand President Roose-
welt continues to go forth from the
executive mansion whenever he pleases
to do so, and without any protection
other than his own physical prowess
and muscular capability to protect
himself. But the superintendent of
our police force sees to it that detec-
tives in plain clothes are always on
hand to follow him; and it would not
be safe for anyone to undertake to
attack Mr.. Roosevelt behind his back.
Such an effort would prove futile, be-
cause a revolver in the hands of an eN-
pert would bark forth with unerring
aim.
President Roosevelt takes the mat
ter philosophically as did the late la
mented Garfield, who wrote to Senator
Sherman saying that his life would be
made miserable if he were to be al
ways apprehensive of bodily harm.
Garfield also said that crime of that
kind could not be averted, if it were
contemplated by person or persons
of strong character and cunning capa-
bilities. Nevertheless, the assassina-
tion of Garfield could have been avert
ed if he had permitted a guard to ac-
company him on that fatal second day
of July. 1881.
President Mckinley began his presi-
Dental career precisely as President
Roosevelt has done, by going forth un-
guarded Immediately after his first in
auguration, in March. 1897. He was
frequently seen upon the streets walk
ing a 5 he had been accustomed to walk
while he was member of the house of
representatives for so many years.
president Mckinley never walked
to the capitol building during the last
five years that he was in congress-"