The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-02-19
LINCOLN AND ROOSEVELT.

| Lincoln day in New 1ork DTouent
ont comparison between the rail-
splitter presiden. and the rough
rider president. Norman Hapgood,
editor Of Golfers Weekly, did the
comparing Ia lecture before the
West Side Young Mems Christian AS
sociation. He said:
"If Lincoln were president now, he
would be all that Roosevelt Is and
something more OF him we would
have none of the doubts we have OF
Theodore Roosevelt The people
would feel ne was one Of them. There
would be no sayings to explain away,
no putting II ON his secretary. There
would be no calling OF the newspa-
per men before him to tell them some
thing and then later deny the state.
ment. He would be all Roosevelt Is
and something much greater than he.
! believe in the president, but he
could learn from Lincoln much that
he lacks"
II will be remembered that II was
the suit Of Justice Deuel. against Mr.
Hapgood for criminal libel in the
Town Topics matter that the episode
came out involving the president in a
controversy concerning the authority
for the use of his photograph in
Fads and Fancies. And It was the
presidents secretary who accepted
all of the blame.
Mr. Hapgood evidently means to
imply that President Roosevelt was
not quite frank in regard to the Fads
and Fancies incident. We can under
stand that he may be entirely inno-
cent for Mr.. Loeb's business Is 10 re-
lieve his chief Of all inconsequential
details and he might have properly
assumed to approve an ordinary
sketch OF the president such as ap.
peared in Fads and Fancies.
But the comparison is none the less
interesting. for Mr.. Roosevelt has
pronounced fondness for personal
publicity. II is in evidence that he
has frequently put himself at the dis
posal Of press writes and in the view
Of the photographer. He likes the
lmelight lie has the actors love OF
applause.
II is a pardonable weakness. but it
is one which Mr. Lincoln did not man
ifest, II historians have correctly de-
scribed him. We can hardly imagine
the rail splitter mounting a horse
and taking high jump before a
camera. However. thai is mere
difference in temperament. II is re.
lated to Mr.. Lincoln's discredt that
he told vulgar stories and was unpar-
donably slovenly in his dress.
The vital difference between the
two men is that indicated by Mr.. Hap
good in saying OF Lincoln; "Of him
we would have none of the doubts we
have of Theodore Roosevelt" There
Is the point. There is more or les
doubt of Roosevelt, not as to his mo-
tives and ideals, but as to his safety,
his sureness, his soundness in the real
philosophy Of society and government.
In some things he is the strongest
man of his generation, but like 9th.
er radical men he is in n peril ell
throwing all his strength into an err
ror, He lacks Lncoln's pois and fore.
sight, and to that extent he lacks of
being a great statesman.
Lincoln might have missed doing
many good ;dings by not undertaking
them, but he did not signally fail
In anything he set his hand to 60,
as Mr., Roosevelt has failed and will
fail again, because he undertakes too
much that is doubtful and hazardous
Mr.. Roosevelt is the more daring
and he will always the more dazzle
the populaee, but by the measure OF
substantial accomplishment in sound
craftsmanship Lincoln towers above
his as Jefferson towers above Jack.
son or as Gladstone towers above
Chamberlain and az Frederick the
Great towers above William Of Ger.
many,-Record.
-o+o
Prospectors are coming to Ardmore
every day and this fact denotes that