The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-11
ROOSEVELT ENDS
SEVEN BIG YEARS
Review of the Public Services OF the
Strenuous President During
Period of Reform.
PATRIOT FULL OF AGGRESSION.
People, Regardless of Party, Are
Virtully Unanimous in Their
Confidence and Gratitude.


of course. be left to the due process OF
that venerable court Of last resort. But
as to the place that Theodore RooSe-
welt holds in the hearts OF the Ameri-
can people as he enters once more the
ranks of private citizenship there is
not the least doubt. The suggestion or
a few editors as to C. loss Of influence
or popularity is simply amusing, SO
overwhelming is the testimony against
it. Among the plain people, where,
like Lincoln's, Mr.. ROOsevelts great
strength lies, there is not the slight
est evidence of an abatement of faith
and devotion. Whereas, there have
been won from the conservative classes
a wider respect and approval than he
could have counted upon seven years
ago, or four, or two. In the small
group which has bitterly hated Mr..
Roosevelt because of his effectual blows
at their privileges and interests. hatred
still prevails. This is one of the plumes
he wears. There is, too, an undimin-
ished disapprOval among the estimable
class which half a century ago could
not discern the greatness OF one whose
clothes hung about his giant frame like
CANT than Aesop's, and who could open
a cabinet meeting with a chapter from
a popular humorist. But the millions,
from the mechanic, the clerk. and the
farmer to the men of the professions
and substantial business, share neither
the relevant and well-founded ferocity
Of Wall street nor the irrelevant dis
pleasure OF the supersensitive and the
conventional. The people, regardless
Of party or section, are virtually unani-
aous in their gratitude and confidence.
So great are these that 1t is probable
Mr.. Roosevelt will lose less Of influence
through his retirement from Office til"
any Of his predecessors save Washing
ton and jefferson.
To place first and highest among the
results Of Mr.. Roosevelt's presidency,
his powerful and pervasive ethical in
fuence does not involve neglect Of the
important economic legal and political
phases Of his service. The rate law
is part of system Of public regula-
ton which must undergo constant cor
rection, both to limit and to extend, as
experience indicates. But as 1t stands
it represents an important accomplish
ment whose principle and even whose
immediate effects Mr.. Roosevelt has
had the satisfaction Of seeing approved
not only by the country at large, but
by the enlightened representatives of
the special interests directly concerned.
The pure food and drug legislation has
had immediate and widespread effects.
The meat inspection law has proved a
benefit to the public and to the indus
try. The passage Of an employers liza
biIity act Is a long step toward social
justice too long delayed, and is a part
Of persistent campaign, not unsub-
stantial In the immediate results, but
destined to raise the whole question
Of social betterment to a surer foot
ing among our national policies. The
establishment Of a department of COM
merce and labor was a valuable and
necessary step toward a better official
coordination of work In Industrial re-
lations. The beginning Of the isthmian
canal, with the difficulties and grave
problems 1t has involved, must rank
high among the acts OF the administra-
ton, while history will place among
the greatest acts Of farseeing states
manship MT. Roosevelt's movement for
the conservation Of our natural re-
sources
But in any survey Of these laws, ex-
ecutive acts, and annunciated policies,
what is plainly TO be recognized is their
conference of purpose and ideals. Taken
together they represent consistent
craftsmanship proceeding upon CON
scious and closely related lines to q
well defined end.
No man who ever led the American
people ever had more definite goal
aor a more unfiinching purpose than
Theodore Roosevelt. However substan
tial and permanent or ephemeral and
illusory his tangible achievements may
prove to be. that goal and that purpose
are the true measure Of his stature
among the great presidents. To use q
phrase he has applied not to himself
but to his fellow countrymen, he has
fought for the righteousness that ex
alteth a nation" He has felt the i'm
portance of Justice and fair dealing in
the economic, legal and political rela
tions Of men. He has realized. and h
has made the nation realize, that If W,
are to have real liberty the substance
Of freedom and not merely its forms
We must guard zealOusly the individual
as against concentration Of power
through the inevitable operation o
economic progress. To make this inev
liable operation serve and not crust
the individual has been his persisten
effort He has striven nightly to kee]
open the door Of opportunity, to gair
and to enforce recognition for the vita
relations Of the individual to societ.
and the vitar responsibility of societ,
towards the individual. Himself al
aggressive individualist, he has seer
and made the nation see that the starl
individualism of an epoch when mel
went forth with ak and rifle each t.
conquer his little quarter Of the wilder
ness must give place to another indi
viduaiism which should take practica
account of the Capitalization Develops
In our economic activities and set III
against the fact Of concentration tn
adequate balance of regulation I'm tn
interest OF the individual. He has beer
accused Of heedlessly overriding TIN
rights of states in the pursuit of /:
ruinOus policy of political centraliza
iion. The charge does not bear analy
lis. Capitalization in business had beer
eonsummated and corresponding cen
tralization of public control became i'm
peratlyely required. Mr.. Roosevelt