The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-09-27
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
HIS VIGOROUS RISE FROM PRI-
VATE LIFE TO PRESIDENT.

NEW YORK, Sept. 21-The New
York Herald of Sunday prints
the following narrative review of
the life of President Theodore
Roosevelt upon one occasion, I'D
work as quick beside Pat Duncan
as with the last descendants of the
PATRON, 1t literally makes no
difference to me so long as the
work is good and the man is in
earnest. | would have young men
work. I'd try to develop and work
out an ideal of mine-the theory of
the duty of the leisure class to the
community. ! have tried to do it
by example, and it is what / have
preached-frst and foremost, to be
American, heart and soul, and to
go with any person, needless of
anything but that persons qualifi-
cations.
This is the overture to Mr.. Roo
sevelts political creed. Instead of
withdrawing, he would have man
stand by his party, be honest and
consistent. Educate men by ex-
ample, " and make the party better
is the Roosevelt article OF faith
A man with many sides, but al
ways, typical'American; radical,
but ever practical; honest, but
strong within his party lines,
Theodore Roosevelt stands before
the country picturesque and uni
que, a daring leader of men and af-
fairs.
His most masterful trait-the
one Napoleonic quality that looms
above all others-is the executive.
To this add sincerity, courage, in
tellectual vision, all guided by con-
science, and you have a man wor-
SHIPPED by friends and respected by
adversaries from Manila to Tam
many Hall,
The story of this wonderful man
began when he was thin-chested
boy. He was pale, stoop-shoul-
dered stripping. and determined to
make himself strong. He exercis-
ed incessantly, and became an ath-
lete.
Entering Harvard, he was able to
hold his own with the best of them
in manly sports.
He graduated from that historic
university with honors in 1881, at
the age of p, and at once started
for the Alps. Peak after peak he
scaled, and then climbed the jung
frau and the Matterhorn.
HIS ENTRY INTO POLITICS.
Returning to New York, he stud
led law and quietly entered politics.
Il have always believed" he said,
sthat every man should join a
political organization and should
attend the primaries; that he
should not be content to be merely
but should do his part of
the work. So, after leaving college
| went to the local political head
quarters, attended all the meetings
and took my part in whatever came
up. There arose revolt against
the member of the Assembly from
that district, and was nominated
to succeed him and was elected"
This was in 1881, and he was
twice reelected. In Albany young
Roosevelt began his policical ca
reer. He made fierce war on crlni-
nal politics. BY many he was con-
but an assertive, we'll mean
ing young man with correct ideas
(absurd in practical politics)4-a
sort of visiting delegate from the
Y. M. c. A. trying TO run the
Legislature, with it's Thur
low Weed traditions, on Sunday
school basis.
But Roosevelt was soon discov-
cred to be knockdown fighter,
One by one he smashed the idols
Of the lobby. One by one he at
tackled the corrupt departments of
the New York city government,
aud spread astonishment among
his opponents,
Upward he mounted, became Re-
publican candidate for Speaker in
his second Assembly year, and in
the year following was made chair
man of the Committee on Cities.
Then began his fight for reform,
the way for the upheaval
that came with the Lexow-Park-
investigation, following
the notable investigation of his
own committee in the early eight
les.
The Democrats soon realized
that young Roosevelt was as able
as he was honest, a tireless work
er and as merciless as Gatling