Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-02
UNCLE SAM AND THE BOYS

, they called him the four-eyed tenderfoot;'
but they soon found their mistake. He
told the sheriff himself to attend to his
duty, and when a cowboy was caught put
ting Roosevelts brand on stray calf
Roosevelt promptly discharged him, say
ing: 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 reform that Mr.. Roosevelt had
been working for in Albany. The idea
was that large number of offices should
be given to persons who could snow their
fitness for the work by passing certain
examinations.
do you mean the civil service, Uncle
Sam? We are going to take the examina-
ton 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 understand about
1t. Well, President Harrison invited Mr..
Roosevelt to become chairman of the Civil
Service Commission, and in the five or
six years that he held the position he
made the service much better than it
ever had been before.
After a while Mr.. Strong became mayor
of New York. He wanted a man for Po-
lice Commissioner who was resolute, SEN
sible honest, strong and never afraid.
Theodore Roosevelt was the man. He
took the place. He tried honestly to en-
force the laws; he helped to clean out the
worst of the slums, and the police force
he almost made anew. Crime sneaked
away and common honesty came in its
place.
"Mr. Roosevelt was next invited to
washington to help Secretary Long i'm
prove your Uncle Sans navy. He seemed
to care less about building more and larg-
er warships than he did about having the
men know how to manage the ships ana
the guns. When the Maine was blown up
he took off his coat. He knew what was
coming, and with all his great energy he
FASTENED 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 It was the first regiment to
get into actual lighting and how the colo
mel himself led the charge up San Juan
Hill. Then. after his return he entered
politics with more vigor than ever. After
a sharp political battle he was elected
governor of New York state, which was
but one step nearer the vice presidency
witch came later. His habit is now, as
always, to do with all his might and with
10y the work of the day that is most
important. When that 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 old white house
is more bright and cheerful tnan IL mas
been for many day.
''Uncle Sam. have you heard that the
home where Theodore Roosevelt lived as
boy was called Tranquility because the
boys kept II so lively?
mo. had not heard of 1t. That is
good Joke. The name would very well fit
the Roosevelt home on Long island in the
summer, when all the nephews and nieces
and cousins get together and the colonel
is 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 hard
Iy get away One little cripple who heard
him not long ago shouted: 'Hurrah for
Teddy! He was scolded, Of course, but an
swcred: we calls him Teddy" because
we loves him So. Theodore Roosevelt has
Dutch, Scotch, English and French blood
in him. but 1t has all become purely
and intensely American. Glad you are
interested in him, boys. Goodby."