The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
UNCLE SAM AND THE BOYS.

called him the 'four-eyed tenderfoot;' but
they soon found their mistake. He told the
sheriff himself to attend better to his duty
and when a cowboy was caught putting
Roosevelts brand on a stray calf Roosevelt
promptly discharged him, saying; You
know that isn't my calf. If you steal for
me you will steal from me-
about that time Benjamin Harrison be-
came president. He believed in the same kind
of a reform that Mr.. Roosevelt had been
working for in Albany. The idea was that
a large number of offices should be given to
persons who could show their fitness for the
work by passing certain examinations.
do you mean the civil service, Uncle
Sam? We are going to take the examina-
tion ourselves, soon as we are old enough.
We may come to Washington, yet, to work
for you"
why, certainly. Excuse me, boys, I
might have known you understood about it.
WE'LL President Harrison invited Mr.. Roose-
welt to become chairman of the Civil Service
Commission, and In the FIVE or six years
that he held the position he made the serv.
ice much better than it ever had been be-
fore.
After a while Mr.. Strong became mayor
of New York. He wanted a man for Police
Commissioner who was resolute sensible
honest, strong and never afraid. Theodore
Roosevelt was the man. He took the place.
He tried honestly to enforce the laws; he
helped to clean out the worst of the Sums
and the police force he almost made anew.
Crime sneaked away and common honesty
came in its place.
Mr. Roosevelt was next invited to Wash
ington TO help Secretary Long improve
your Uncle Sans navy. He seemed to care
less about building more and larger war
ships than he did about having the men
know how to manage the ships and the
guns. When the Maine was blown I'D he
ing, and with all his great energy he has
tened to get the men ready.
when the war did come he resigned his
office, buckled ON a sword and collected his
famous regiment of Rough Riders. You re-
member how 1t wac the first regiment to get
into actual fighting and how the Colonel
himself led the charge up San Juan Hill.
Then, after his return he entered nolitics
with more vigor than ever. After a sharp
pohticai battle he was elected governor of
New York State, which was but one sten
nearer the vice presidency, which came
later. His habit is now, as always. to do
with all his might and with joy the work of
the day that is most important. When tb,t
Is done he is eager for play, either with his
friends or with his six children and their
friends. And let me tell you that the ola
White House is more bright and cbeerfn,
than it has been for many a day.
Uncle Sam, have you heard that IN,
home where Theodore Roosevelt lived as a
boy was called Tranquility because III,
boys kept 1t SO liyely!"
mo. | had not heard of it. That is
good joke The name would very wei !.
the Roosevelt home on Long Island in tn
summer, when all the nephews and nict,s
and cousins get together, and the Colonel +
there, too, the biggest boy Of all. He loves
children, and they love him. When he goes
to the Newsboys Home and talks about
hunting mountain lions he can hardly get
away. one little cripple who heard him not
long ago shouted: 'Hurrah for Teddy. He
was seeded, Of course, but answered: We
calls HIN Teddy" because we loves him So
Theodore Roosevelt has Dutch, Scotch,
English and French blood in him, but it has
All become purely and intensely American.
Glad you are interested 10 Linn, boys.
Good-bg.'