The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-10-21
ROOSEvELTS COURAGE.
Ats Quality Is Such that 1t Commands Re-
spect and Admiration.

snect and Admiration.
This presidential campaign has re-
solved itself into a study of President
Roosevelt and the three years of his
administra ton. Beginning with much
confidence and good will, the public
has learned, from an extended exam
ination Of the Presidents public acts
and utterances, fresh respect for the
mann On the bridge Of the ship OF state.
And the study of events and how
they were met has revealed how much
T is needed in the makeup Of the Amer
lean chief executive the quality Of
courage. Not physical courage, mere
ly, but that enduring, steadfast hold
ing to duty without fear Of present
or future personal consequences which
nerves men of strong moral and men
tai fibre.
1t takes the strongest kind Of moral
courage to meet the questions which
day. The President as representing
the whole people Of the country, must
meet these questions as best he can.
He must be eyes, ears, hands and feet
for the tremendous interests conhded
to his care. In shor*, he is the execu-
tive head of the nation.
To this great office President Roose
welt brought a highly organized BRAIN
an educated understanding. Il cult
waited personality. Of ardent temper
ament. he easily secured public affec-
ton and admiration. But, along with
his charming good fellowship and
broad humanity he had the supreme
quality OF courage. Very soon this
possession was called out in Il manner
both unexpected ard unprecedented,
and the people began fully to know
their President.
The first record breaker was the tax
ing up by President Roosevelt of the
coal strike, and its happy settlement.
! Let no one under-rate the firmneSs Of
purpose, the sense of duty, and the
high Appreciation of public accOunta-
bility with which this step was taken.
No one of President RoOsevelt's friends
advised him to attempt what every
one believed would be a failure. But
the commission was appointed, its
work was carefully laid out for it, and,
backed as it was by President Roose-
velt's personality and position. it won
peace from the gripped hand Of greed.
ard millions of men, women and chill
dren were. in consequence, warmed
| and fed and sheltered from the storms
of winter.
In this life of ours the first gift to
all the sons of men is courage. And
| then courage. and again courage!
Again, when the people began to de-
| spair under the heavy tread of the
| Oyerpowering trust mOnOpolies. Presi-
| dent Roosevelt took the initiative to-
ward regulation by law of the illegal
| cOmbinat tons which threaten the
| smaller corporations as we'll as indi-
| viduals. Now, again. there were dis
couragers of action. Again there were
many who. seeing the danger. still
could see no way of escape. And
| again. through the constituted chan
nels of legal action, President ROose-
welt took lne initiative in the defense
! against trespassers upon the national
laws of commerce and labor. In the
| Northern Securities case the court sus-
| tanned the position of the executive,
and gave the people a lesson as to one
lawful way by which illegal monopo-
! lies can be controlled.
| There have not been wanting other
examples of courage and sense of re-
sponsiblity in ROOsevelt's presidential
career. The two instances referred to
here are enough to remind people what
manner of man sits now in the Presi-
dents chair at Washington. We need
courage there at the head of the ma
! ton. We are not going to part with it
! at this stage of our growth and prog
reSS.