The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
ABOUT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

ABOUT PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
Here we are again, Uncle Sam. This time
we came to ask If you will tell US something
about the President Somehow he seems
different from the other presidents that we
read about-almost like one of us boys.
You must know him real well. Please tell
us about him.
with pleasure, my boys. l always IKE
to talk about our presidents, because they
have been great and noble men. Did you
ever think of it? When you read about some
OF the wicked kings and emperors who have
ruled great nations in the past, and then
about the % men who have been our presi-
dents, from Washington down, doesn't 1t
make you proud to be Americana"
Yes, it does, Uncle Sam. 1t must be be-
cause the people choose the presidents and
they wouldn't choose one who was not good
man"
You are right, boys, and when all the
voters get to be as intelligent as you are we
shall be more certain than ever to choose
only the truest and best men,
But you came to hear something about
when the war with Spain was over and
Colonel Roosevelt came back to the village
In Long Island where he had lived, his
neighbors wanted to hear all about it. So
they gathered one day around band stand,
where he could talk TO them. Before he
began he looked up into the trees that shaded
the place and saw them thick with boys.
Pointing, he said: That's the verytree used
to climb when there was anything going on
80 that is the kind Of boy he was
restless, venturesome, with a good, healthy
interest in all kinds of fun, fond of soldier
buttons, tin swords, guns, tomahawks and
ponies. He was more delicate than rugged,
but by the time he started to college he
knew that he had to get strong If he was to
be good for anything. Therefore, he divided
his time between healthy study and healthy
play He rowed, ran, boxed and wrestled
and came from college with strong healthy
body ana a healthy, well-stored mind.
Two years later he was a member of the
legislature in Albany. People had told him
that there was no room in politics for
young man who had good principles and
wanted to keep them. Young Roosevelt
didn't believe it. He was sure there must
be place for a young man who is prop
erly educated, who loves his country, who
is patient, courageous, strong enough to
work hard, and yet honest enough to fail
sooner than surrender to wrong.
THAT makes US think of Henry Clay,
Jfncla Sam when he said he would rather
be right than be president. Only Roosevelt
said he would rather be right, aud he came
to be president, after ALL"
Eyes, boys, that is very interesting. But
Mr.. Roosevelt soon found out what his
friends had meant when they told him a
decent man had better keep out of politics.
They called him the young reformer al AL
hany. and laughed at him, but In the end
they had to fight him. BY pluck and resolu-
ton he exposed evil and had some excellent
laws made.
"When the bosses saw that he was In
earnest and that he was getting things
done they prevented his reelection. Then
he packed his guns and went away to Da.
kota. where he could live on a ranch, grow
strong. hunt and write books. You and /
AFRO glad he did, for how else could we have
had those delightful, true stories, The
Hunting Trips OF a Ranchman, Ranch
Life and the Hunting Trail and The Viii
derAess HunterT
II everyone who did wrong. At first they