Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-10
AN UNCONVENTIONAL PRESIDENT.
Free-HeRrted, willing
60 Tell All He Knows.-
Boston transcript

Boston Transcript.
The word which perhaps most ftly char
acterizes the present chief of our nation,
especially in reference to his public and
political life, is unconventional" II Is a
harmless word. in that It suggests no mo
tive; while 1t suggests wonderful strength
of character when II Is remembered that
he is in the heart of traditional public and
political conventionality. and not only holds
his own. but impresses himself upon the
nation as a dominant force in its life.
Serenely unmindful Of what lis expected
of him, yet conscientious as to what he
ought to do, infiexible as to his purpose,
impulslvely quick to act when his mind is
made up, he rushes on his course, and t.
official and political people are stirred up
as dry leaves are stirred up by the wind.
Conventional people pause to watch the
direction OF his Independence, as II uncer-
tain themselves. and politicians-espe-
cially the boss and ring politicians-are
afraid Of him. Yet there is no merely i'm
pulslve action, nothing irresponsible. There
is wonderful method, but it is his own
method. A mind made up, his wits about
him. strong purpose characterize all he
does President Roosevelt is purely uncon-
ventlonal; but his is so strong a personal
ity that four years more OF him, after his
present term of ONCE. is likely to result in
new order Of things-a new convention
ality.
Here is Just the point, or at least the
cheering feature, OF the nations confidence
in him. Conventionality IL all right until,
like the wineslins of old tme, 1t is per-
mitted to dry up stiff and hard 30 that 1t
breaks when new wine is poured in. Then
II is very dangerous. for It is inadequate to
hold the expanding lift OF the nation.
without going into details, as to political
corruption IT is demonstrated here and
there, the inadequacy OF present laws and
social and political customs and methods,
to meet the new exigencies of our time, 1t
Is enough to say without playing the
alarmist. that our present wineskins are
for the most part very dry. hard and
dangerous This is recognized by all close
observers, and needs no argument. Nor is
there cause for alarm, for the sturdy con-
science and sense Of the American people
can be depended upon to create new ves-
sells to hold our wine Of life. But is it
not a most cheering thing that the leader
OF tho new movement, the crystallizer into
method of the peoples movement, is none
other than the president?
This, at least, is true of him, so far as
nlB pubic anu POLITICAL lie Is COnCefneu-
when the formation is complete, social
and other life will take on the new shape.
It is certainly a good thing to feel that a
man OF good conscience, honest convic-
tons. broad understanding and public
spirit is in the lead. 1t is polite to let him
lead.
It is characteristic of all governments
but not so much as in former times, except
in respect to governments of the ancient
sort-that their political machinery is kept
in closed and locked rooms rigidly secure
from public gaze. 1t has often been ac-
counted treason to reveal to the people the
secrets Of their own government. This
ought not to be in a republic, beyond
those matters of policy where secrecy for
the time is essential Yet we have been
cursed with the custom of extending the
old rule TO the machinery of party politics
and to government as administered by par
| ties, and latterly to Industrial and bust.
| ness enterprises especially in their relation
to parties and legislation.
Here, at least. is one respect In which
our president refuses to be conventional
Open-minded. free-hearted, he is willing tc
tell all he knows to reveal all his owr
| political secrets, to take the people whose
government this>is. into his counsel. It IL
new fashion, but after all will not 4
| touch the popular heart to which 1t ap
/ peals?