, 1904-06-23
Sketch of Theodore Roosevelt.

picturesque figures in American public
life when he was elected to the vice
presidency in 1900 and succeeded to the
presidency a year later through the
death of William Mckinley. His di-
versified and vigorous activities had
not only brought him recognition and
advancement in political life, but had
won him % on the ield of battle,
in the Bad Lands of the west. as ranch.
man, hunter, and cowboy, and also in
the more peaceful pursuits OF honors
in the literary world.
In co%ntravention of well-established
tradition concerning national heroes,
the president was born in a great city.
His birthplace was in East Twentieth
street, New York City, and the late
October 81, 1858, which made him the
youngest president when he succeeded
to that high Office three years age. His
father. Theodore, belonged to an old
and wealthy Knickerbocker family,
and his mother was a descendant of
Archibald Bullock. first president of
Georgia during the revolution.
AS a young man Roosevelt was ex-
ceedingly frail from a physical view
point. He was sent to private schools
during his early school years and
prepared for Harvard university to
avoid the rough treatment of boys in
the public schools. He was a devotee
of all athletic sports at Harvard and
when he graduated from that institu-
tion in 1880 his health was very much
improved. After extended travel in
Europe. he returned to this country,
studied law for a few months, and
then plunged at once into the mael-
strom of municipal politics. He was
elected in 1881 an assemblyman from
the Twenty-first assembly district of
New York. At Albany he vas prompt
ly dubbed a silk stocking" and a
freak of a popular election. Mr..
Roosevelt. then but 90 years of age,
soon succeeded in making himself a
storm center. HIS best known work
IN the legislature at this time was IN
connection Win the passage OF the
acts abolishing the fee system in coun-
" oHees ana IN depriVing tne ooard
Oh aldermen Of thelr veto power OF the
mayors appointments. rms was a
relic of the Tweed regime,
In 1884 Mr.. Roosevelt went TO chi
caso as a delegate to the republican
national convention. He opposed the
nomination OF Blame, put when Mr..
Blame became the nominee OF the re-
pulicans' Mr.. Roosevelt fell into line
and worked Tor the party Candidates
success. After retiring from the leg
stature Mr.. Roosevelt spent some time
at MS ranch IN North Dakota.
In 1885, he was again in the turmoil
OF New YORK city politics. Henry
George was a candidate for mayor.
Abram S. Hewitt was the nominee of
the democrats. Mr.. Roosevelt was put
~ ~ ~ eN "A.
Hewitt o Roosevelt next attracted
notice as a hunter Of big game. He
delighted in hunting the grizzly bears
and other fierce animals of the west.
President Harrison in 1889 appoint
ed Mr.. Roosevelt United States Civil
Service commissioner. President
Cleveland retained him in Office. al
though Mr.. Roosevelt resigned in 1895
to become president of the New York
board of police commissioners. His
service as a police commissioner was
of a most strenuous type and he was
credited with effectually stopping the
police blackmale of saloon keepers.
President Mckinley appointed Mr..
Roosevelt assistant secretary of the
navy. which Office he resigned at the
outbreak of hostilities with Spain. Re-
turning to the a Lands Mr.. Roose-
welt organized his amous regiment OF
rough riders for service in Cuba.
The history OF Roosevelt and his
Il RIDERS during the Santiago
campaign is well remembered. Re
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