Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-01-08
#istet1aaeulls gsadiug.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
His Personal characteristics and His
Official Proceedings.
President Roosevelt has been chief
executive long enough for some Of his
policies to be outlined, irrespective Of
any official statement as to them. Much
of the presidents time since he came
to the White House has been occupied
in disposing Of the innumerable appli-
cations for Office. He has carried out
the few promises which were made by
his predecessor. AS to other appoint
ments he has pursued an Independent
and in some cases unusual course. 1t
can be said without reflection upon the
heads Of the different departments that
appointments have been made In nearly
all Of them without consulting the cab
met officers. The president wishes to be
personally responsible for his acts. he
has made his own inquiries and reach
ed his own conclusions except in judic-
ial appointments. In these he has TAX
en- the recommendations Of Mr.. Knox,
the attorney general, as final. In max
ing appointments the president has in
sisted that recommendations to him be
made in person by zenators and repre-
sentatives. He has discouraged written
recommendations. realizing how easy 1t
Is for public men to sign a letter and
relieve themselves Of further respon-
sibility toward their ambitious constit-
uents. The president chooses to have
recommendations made In person. 80
that he can question those making
them and reach his own conclusions.
The president has taken a decidedly in
dependent course in dealing with his
party in the southern states. He has
said that in making appointments there
his idea was to build up respect and
confidence among the masses. He
claims to have found he could not do so
by following the recommendations
which he believed were made to him
by professional place hunters. This has
led him to ignore the party organiza-
ton in nearly every southern state and
place 1t in open opposition to him. The
possible exceptions to this are in North
Carolina and Virginia.
The president is the most persistent
horseback rider in Washington. Ev-
cry afternoon at $3.50 o'clock his horse
is brought to the private entrance Of
the White House and in few moments
the president appears. He wears a
broad -brimmed "rough-rider hat, a
complete suit Of khaki, yellow leggins,
tall riding shoes and regulation caval-
ry spurs. The afternoon rides Of the
president are the bane Of secret ser
vice and police life in the capital. The
subordinates Of both services are charg-
ed with keeping the president constant
ly in sight and preventing possible as
saults upon him. 1t has been found
necessary to call upon the war depart
ment for cooperation. A cavalryman
is constantly detailed at the White
House stables. The president will coun-
tenance no surveillance. When his
horse is ordered saddled the cavalry
man rides out and watches the exits
from the White House grounds. When
the president leaves the cavalryman
follows at respectful distance. The
soldiers who have had this detail say
that the president is hard rider to fol-
low. 1t has been found that only the
best of them can keep in sight. For a
time members Of the bicycle squad
of the capital police tried to guard the
president on his rides; but found this
impracticable. AS a pedestrian, the
president Is as strenuous as he Is as an
equestrian. Only a few days ago a
6-foot secret service officer who was as
signed to follow him on one Of his
walks over the long bridge into Virginia
became exhausted after the first hour
and was forced to return to the city on
an electric car.
Since his succession to the presidency
Mr. Roosevelt has endeavored to car
ry out some Of his civil service re-
form ideas. He has done so through a
number of executive orders. Thus far
his moves relative to the service have
been marked by a conservatism which
has been pleasing to his friends and a
surprise to those who expressed fear
that he would be misled into attempt
ing to apply theories and secure an
ideal system through impracticable
means. The president has classified
the rural free delivery employees of the
postoffie department. He has also
placed on the classified service tenn
porary appointees in other depart
ments, and has given his approval to
orders which will prevent evasions of
the civil service laws. He has insist
ed from the first day Of his ad ninistra-
ton that merit alone shall govern all
promotion. This has been most marked
in the army and navy. Some Of the
most influential senators and members