The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-04
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.

Today at noon Theodore Roosevelt
was inaugurated president of the
United States. Counting Grover Cleve-
land twice because his two terms were
not consecutive, Mr.. Roosevelt is the
twenty-sixth president, although ne is
only the twenty-fifth person to oc-
cupy the presidential chair.
While the nation has grown accus-
toned to looking upon Mr.. Roosevelt
as its head, today is the first time he
was ever the central figure in the in
augural ceremony. Eight years ago
ne was one of the minor appointive
officers in Mr.. NIcKinley's administra-
ton, which was just beginning. Then
followed his work as assistant secre-
tary of the navy in preparing for the
Spanish-An erican war; his career in
the war itself in his Rough Riders
regiment. and his homecoming and
election as governor of New York.
Four years ago today Mr.. Mckinley
was entering upon his second term as
president, and Mr.. Roosevelt, re-
luctantly obeying the demand upon
him, took his place as vice president.
Although it is suspected that his
enemies intended that the vice presi-
dency should keep him out of the
assassin's bullet landed him in it.
While Mr.. Roosevelt is just entering
upon his duties as an elected presi-
dent, he has given the country a
pretty good sample of what to expect.
What the country thinks of the sample
is evidenced by the majority given
him last November-the most over
whelming endorsement ever given a
public man in many years.
The whirligig of time and events
has brought about important changes
since the last inaugural ceremony
was held in Washington. Four years
ago Mr.. Mckinley was beginning his
second term. The country was at the
height of its financial prosperity. The
steel trust, the shipbuilding trust and
other lesser concerns were just form
ing. Nearly everything else was sub
served to the business interests" of
the country-the Morgans, the Rookie
fellers, the Schwabs, and other finan-
ciers. Since then the shipbuilding
trust has gone to pieces. The steel
trust developed a scandal in financial
circles The methods of the "big
fnanciers" have been shown up and
the country has been aroused to the
illegal methods employed by some of
them. Mckinley the diplomat, who
steered the ship of state through
troubled waters by his skin and per-
suasive powers, has been succeeded by
Roosevelt the forceful. who has de-
manded for every man "a square
deal" The Reaper, Death, has re-
moved Hanna and Quay, two of the
great leaders, from the arena of state
craft. The public service has been
purged of much of its rascality, and
"big business has been placed before
the public in a new light.
That the people of the United
States approve and believe in the
policy of Theodore Roosevelt goes
without saying. They believe that he
stands for honesty in public affairs
above everything else, and his declara-
ton for "a square deaI'' goes home to
every man who is not trying to take
an unfair advantage Of some one else.
A wave of public indignation against
graft has been sweeping over the ma
ton, and this is now followed by a
similar wave against unfairness in
business That President Roosevelt
is largely responsible for this cannot
be denied. If he continues during the
next four years as he has in the past
three, the historian of the future will
place his name beside that of Wash
ington and Lincoln among the great
presidents of great republic.