The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-09-24
From n. Y Tribune.
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
Some Of Theodore ROOsevelt's
Ideas, Ideals and Deeds.

"Aggressive fighting for the right is
the greatest sport the world knows,
Is an epigram attributed to Theodore
Roosevelt, President of the United
States, former rVice-President, ex-Gov-
ernor of New York, veteran of the San
tiago campaign. colonel of the Rough
Riders, former Assistant Secretary of
the Navy, ex-President OF the New
York Police Board, ex-Civil Service
Commissioner. ex-Assemblyman, Har-
ward graduate, author, cowboy and
hunter; and the epigram has been
characteristic of the map in all of those
varied positions and capacities. "Stren-
uous" is an adjective which he has pop
ularizsd, and better one could not be
selected to describe his chosen habits
of work and play from his boyhood to
the present hour.
Even at an early age he displayed
peculiar will power in graphing with
adverse conditions, power so great
that it ira nsformed him from delicate
youth-''pig chested" are the words he
has used in describing his boyish
|physique-into q man of almost marvel
lous endurance, of fine musular devel-
opment and of great nervous energy.
81 have made my health what it is, /" he
said during one of those car platform
stump speaking tours of his, which
sapped all the strength out of most of
-;tl,
him. 81 found 1 could not play at the
games of other boys, so determined
that would be strong and well like the
best of them. / set out to do every
thing could to increase my strength,
with the result that by the time 1 en-
tered Harvard 1 was able to take my
part in whatever manly sports l liked,
and not only take part, but hold my
end up pretty well with the best of
| them, though 1 never actually won a
championship"
| At the age of p, in 1880, President
Roosevelt made a long visit to Europe,
during which he climbed the Jungfrau
and Matterhorn. Returning to New
York late in 1881, he entered on the
study and practice of law, and served
in the legislature the three ensuing
years. During this period be secured
the passage of many measures reform
ing the city government of the metrop-
oils, and the fact that he was fine
boxer commanded for the time the
Il ,l>1 Of To-,
bers. He was appointed a member of
the National Civil Service Commission
by President Harrison in 1889. When
he began work in that capacity, only
fourteen thousand places were open to
Icompetition, but when he resigned, the
number had been increased to forty
Thousand.
| Between 1884 and 1889 much of Col.
in Dakota. His fondness for hunting
and riding, his feats of daring and
strength and his genial nature at this
time, commanded the hearty admira-
ltion of the cowboys. AS hunter Of
big game. moose, elk, mountain lions
land grizzlies, he has earned a reputa-
ltion second to none.
| Having been put on the New York
lCity Police Commission in 1895, he in.
stituted host of reforms which made
him terror to corrupt and indolent
lofficers. Two years later he was ap
pointed Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, at the beginning of Mckinley
first administration. Among the limo
vations which he brought about durin =
this short term of service was great
Increase in the amount of gun practice
on our great warships, to whi ch
doubtless due to great extent the tri-
umph of the American navy in the
Spanish war.
i In April, 1895, he obtained colonel
icommission, and raised regiment O
Trough Riders in the West, which di,
gallant service in the Cuban war. A
this time, however, Col. Roosevelt wa
no less distinguished for his care of the
men under him and his readiness T.
share their food and poor accommoda
tions than by his bravery.
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.
Colonel Roosevelt returned to the
United States to find that he was al
ready talked of as the next Governo
!. of New York. But his regiment, whicl
he had "breathed with and eaten will
for three months" was still on hi
hands, and he had no time for anythin,
but it. Not until he became plai
citizen on September 10 would he tai
of politics. And then he found the It'd
of events bearing him along inevitabl
and irresistibly.
Previous to the State convention
= was nominated by the Citizens Unior
but he declined, replying that he was
Republican. The Democrats tried t
Illustrate his nomination by attemptin
to prove that he had lost his legal res
dence in this State. That plan failed
and he was nominated in the CONVEX
tion by a vote of 1853 to 2lS for Governc
'e Black. The campaign throughout th
State was spirited. Colonel Rooseve
took the stump and delivered man
U speeches. His plurality was 1S,079.
@ When Colonel Roosevelt arrived i
Albany as Governor it was felt that til