Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-20
S Theodore Roosevelt Great Man or a Sham? %cH.47

rs,o or a humbur? These are the questions
,i.b tlc Herald today submits Goo its readers for
treir answer
,.r. is a. cloud of Witnesses TO either cbaraetcrza-
ton ,,.,
l5.o, since Washington. Mr.. Edward Hartman
,,.,irccd him se the most dangerous man that
,rpiod the presidential chair between these
t-srncs am sorts Of intermediate shades of oniu-
". have been expressed by friends and foes.
'u1,st verbal compromise if any, would succiucuy
- mo his virtues and his faingsf
80 Uo6scyclts three most characteristic sayings
.tbo strenuous lfc,' "the square deal" and "thc
~ click" His admirers hold that hc has embodied an
,s-,o before the world Are they right or wrong?
concerning his streuuosity there Dee mo- question
,r de- le most active. the most energetic. the most
,,fai OF an present-day statesmen. But are
~ s.tIvities always directed into proper channels
= his energy utilized wasted? Is his force always
- ,s,,,Ily cxcrtcd on the right sideg
r1,s r, gwen a square deal his foes as wen as Jo
A., f4crds given 1t alike to the businessman the
.oft.ian the private individual Tho general pubuce
Vas De welded the big stick 20 tho benefit of tho
,otras and the peoples under patronage?
m his personal popularity there can bc no moro
t+ ,,n OF his strenuosity But is the good feeling
1bicb he creates born OF unqualified admiration and
respect?
or g there a burlesque side to his character which
op,als gratefully TO our sense of humor? In other
lords is the nations darling "a spoiled child?
OR is ho a massive, many sided fui grown man who
,r5eas himself upon by sheer forve OF his intellect
Ms virtues and his dominating personality?
JAMES WALTER CROOK. Professor Of Political
reor1my. Amherst COLLEGE am inclined To- think
ifat Ro1scvelts place I'm history Is that of being
o. the reconstructors Of our American democracy.
.In the system Of competition ia business the
ArrI1-SaNons are allowed more freedom than is best
and Roosrvelts function has been 20 cali attention
10 the social interests lt somstimes has been for
bsps are connected with impulsiveness II will forget
AM this and viii remember his straightforward action
En- the interests of the whole people and accord him
place among the larger minded men of the republic.
do not mean by this that he Will be looked upon as
greater than Washington OF Lincoln. but that he viii
take rank with any Of the others"
GEORGE HARRIS, d. D.. President Of Amherst
eaIeee-'I am an admirer Of President Roosevelt
great admirer Of him-and II going to answer
either of these questions would wish O. do the sub
s-t full Justice Both an, questions that would enc
.,r considerable Thought The president is a great
executive There can he mo- doubt Of that look
-or myself as being enthusiastic concerning what he
ts accomplished. His place in history-vell. it will be
high one I sure. How will posterty view him?
o that cannot say believe posterity will do him
ml Justice M least"
FREDERICK LINCOLN THOMPSON. Professor OF
History at Amherst cannot answer either Of The
ouestiaus. Tho fact is ! try Go teach my students
history and never attempt 10 indulge In prophecy
Therefore hesitate, i'm fact win attempt 10 place
SIR Roosevelt in history or venture an opinion 10
bow be- may be regarded in future years
THOMAS NIXON CARVER. Ph.D. LID. Profess
0s Political Economy OF Harvard University
snoJl regard fleSlncut roosevelt as the noiscst
PRESIDENT we nave ever had alp somewhat different
from others In my ideas regarding just what place I'm
history he win hold. In fact I don't think that I
would De able 20 answer That question al ALL viii
Say that think him to be- OF the greatest presi-
dents / do not however, think h'm the gIeatest-no,
De- IS NOT that To my mind he VIII h. given iu pos
trIty something about the same plane Andrew
Jackson. Jackson and Roosevelt are somewhat SINH
OAR Beyond what / have said. do not think ] could
make any further prophecy
PROFESSOR II. j. FORD. Of the Politics Depart
mont OF Pinceton-'Roosevet did great deal To- Ia
clate the development of the presidential office
t0e chief representative of the people. He did not
initiate the conception of the presidency as "a repre-
sentative institution. That was question az issue
at'een the Wings and the Democrats. and President
Polk the first executive to distinctly announce the
doctrine that the president represented the nation
q whole and is the only branch of the government
uat does Congress represents localities and SPECIAL
President Roosevelt has done more to give bene-
hcaI power 10 this doctrine than any his predeces-
De accredited with great constitutional Importance
Hd Nil shine IN history as the most powerful move
'Hl ever made up ln his time io intuse democratic
character into tho conduct OF government and 90
bring tho course OF legislation under the control OF
lD-'t opinion. Althonsh IL ls hard 20 predict what
Place postcrity will assign him, there Be- doubt u
'y mind that the president is a great man 600 every
.I.. Hf thc word His rudeness OF speech and action
r gHaIlceiistic OF great mon and ono might almost
'l uldi ihgE are necessary contingent upon great
,eaa DO lh" ueId of politics The petty speful actions
p u' congress, whose successors have already beeu
a.ted and which is IN reality mo- longer entitled 90
'hce. are more than rcprehonsblc, and merely the
nelo. narrow revenge OF body who's corruption has
been rev called"
r. II. McEI.ROY. Professor OF History bon Prince
on-"Ihere Is denying the foremost rank that
'ooaarots administration viii attain in history but
flaer this is duo % the president personal ability
3. rely 20 force of circumstances and TO the exc
tHonco on his advisers Secretaries Hay and Root
question On my mind We are not bon "a position
% present 10 censure Roosevelt 10 VIII probably be
'N years before the public viii Doe in possession OF
Aa truo facts OF the BOZ tho recent unpleasant
'H ana not until then can Doe Dr. assigned to his
'Ier place in history. His administration is cone
' .'"u8 because of the number of affairs of world
poe interest and lmpOranoa hat have been con-
minated in the last seven years but amy prophecy
. tp tho enduring greatness of Roosevelt Inc man is
atF to Doe contradlcfad by the verdict of ths next
L.i ZION. Too many men conspicuous n their time
Nr been raleRutcd To oblivion lu 40 I'D years FOR
n l' venture % prediction as Go Roosevelt lust-
f greatness"
ID IT. DANIELS PROFESSOR no Political Economy
ltnDotuu-' Roosevelt WIN probably bo known BOOST
american history us ono who maguinod the powers
mo- activities of the presidential ofdu, perhaps as
' "h' began what seems tu Do. "a alutay movement
n ".' direction of organizing the political chaos