Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-15

TO his Office. and some OF his bitterest
opponents we're his associates on the
beard.
He resigned his office in 1897 to be-
corne ssistant Secretary OF the Navy.
In April. when he first assumed his new
Office, things were red hot down in
Cuba and already there was talk Of
American Interference Roosevelt was
thoroughly posted in the history OF the
navy and his history OF the war OF 1872
gave him ideas as to the importance or
sea power in case OF a war. His every
effort was directed toward better train
in. of the men in the navy. Gun prac-
tice and all sorts of limitations OF ac-
tual service. including maneuvers, were
introduced. When he was detailed to
inspect the navy at Hampton Roads in
the fall OF 81 he kept the whole outfit
on the keen jump for a week. He put
them through drills Of various Kinds
and the officers and crews never knew
when or where he would break out
next with some surprise.
Ills Foresight Counted.
Work on the new ships was hurried
with all possible speed. New guns
were bought so as to have no lack OF
ornament IN navai reserves were
put through their PAGES and encour-
aged 10 learn ~seamanship. Under his
regime the ships were fully manned
with new recruits and equipped for
active service. When the clash eaLle,
a year later, the navy was hrst TO 90
TO sea and put up a battle which would
40 credit to the United States. Te
victories at Manila and Santiago were
the reward OF the previous year OF
work in training I'M cquipptng the
navy.
Then the Rough Riders.
When there was fighting to be done
the quiet Of the navy Office vas not
at all to Teddy's taste. He resigned
Oh May 8, 1898, and proceeded to the
raising of a regiment of rough riders,
believing that the p%lainsnleli with
whom he had lived so much, and
whose hardy endurance and splendid
courage he knew so well, would make
the finest cavalry and scouting force
in the world. Roosevelt migdt have
taken command had he insisted upon
the honor, but he knew his ltmita-
items, Inc wisely gave way 10 Col.
Wood, accepting the second place IN
command. What the rough riders did
is too recent history TO be repeated.
Mr.. Roosevelt has told it exce!lently
We'll with his ready pen. They were
Il factor in the war, and would have
done more had their opportunities
Leen greater. Col. Wood became gov
crnor-general of Cuba, and Mr.. Roose-
] Nelt's popularity made the Republican
boss of New York open his arms and
accept him as a candidate for gov
ornor.
4 strenuous Governor.
In the Office of governor, Mr.. Roose-
welt found no lack of work. His State
was cursed by corrupt rings, and one
OF the most dangerous was the canal
ring, which had the power TO make
appropriations vanish in thin air. He
placed men of his own selection in
the department, enforced the factory
law for the breaking up of sweat shop
practice, aided the tenement commits
sion in lettering the condition of the
poor, and made the canal board non
partisan. Roosevelt was too much of a
reformer, too fair a man to suit the po-
litical rinesters and the rich corpora-
lions which had been accustomed to
have things their own way. The passage
of a tax law against corporations, AMI
the evident intent to enforce it, made
the managers plan to get rid OF Teddy.
they found that it would hardly be pos
sible TO defeat him in the ordinary way
and so they sought to put him safely
out Of the way by electing him vice
president. Nobody understood the pur-
pose of the game better than Teddy,
but the appeals to his sense of duty to
the party and to his personal vanity
for Teddy has some of the weaknesses
common to all men, made him yield,
and since that time his opponents have
lone their best to make the world for
get that Teddy ever existed.
Opportunity for the presidency can
not come to every man, but when n
comes it can not be grasped unless the
man is ready for the Office.
1t may be accepted with perfect as
surance that now he is President he
will be a man of action n ambition.
Their is not a doubt but he will spend
the nations money literally, but he
will give the country something fol
its money. Mr.. Roosevelt may be am
bilious for public honors, but it mus
be conceded that he has always beer
patriotic in motive, and that in every
capacity he has acquitted himself witt
remarkable credit. Mr.. Roosevelt will
be the youngest president, but he is old
err in experience than the majority o
his predecessors, for he has been a stu
dent OF American history, I'M he ha'
grown up in the atmosphere of politics
and has maintained his integrity anC
the respect Of the nation. When he as
sumes the Office of chief executive.
he should do so, he may be, expected &c
lean more toward democratic conserva
tism than heretofore, for the RESPONSE
bilities of the Office will weigh upoT
him. He may be counted up
on to make enemies amons
the political leaders of his par
ty, and possibly to incur the dislike o
the corporations. but Mr.. Roosevelt t
a fair fighter. He has a strong sense o
justice, and he may be counted upon t.
win the respect even of his enemies, al
he has always lone in the past.