Imperial Valley press., 1912-10-24


1t is easy to start reform, but it
is exceedingly difficult to get a refor-
nation idea enacted into law. No man
ever went to Roosevelt with a meas
ure of general public Importance with
out getting an instant and ready re
ply That is a good thing, 1 will
advance it" His action in the coal
strike, his part in the Russo o-Japanese
war, his work with Pinchot and Gar
field. his building up our policy of
conservation, his resistance upon the
pure food bill, his booking of rail
way regulation-all these are achieve
ments which are recorded but there
is another less tangible and more far
reaching effect of his personality and
that is found in the livening, the re
juvenation. of our public service. To
use strong phrase, he "jacked up"
the public servants all along the line
He was a live wire" and out of his
abounding vitality a thrill of energy, of
courage, of resolution radiated till it
was felt by the ranger in his lonely
forest, the meat inspector in the Chi
cago jungle and the diplomat at the
court of kings.
He would not tolerate incapacity in
a general of the army or any other of
hcer. Tireless himself, he was impa
tient of those who stopped on the field
of battle to take an after dinner nap
He was an executive, not a ruminat-
ing old judge. He loved youth, vigor
and clear perception and admired hon
est, enthusiastic purpose. SO far as
he could, he cast his vote for the young
candidate. He called the young man
OF Independent fortune into politics
He raised public service to a higher
rate of speed, and today he is the lead
er Of party of young men-men who
are young in the power to assimilate c
novel ideas. He is the leader of those
who believe in honest social service
Nand the enforcement of social jus
tice.
But my friend insists, admit all
that-and much of it l do admits he
not profound egotist? Did he not
come between other leaders and the
nomination."
He did-but he did it at the almost
universal demand of the Progressives
Let no one deceive himself There
was only one first choice and that was
Theodore Roosevelt. No one who at.
tended the convention in Chicago
could have any reasonable doubt OF
whom the neople commanded to serve
There were several substitutes, but onI,
one Roosevelt. There never had been
The others were named simply on the
basis Of a substitute in case the chie-
tackle would not play The presidenc,
should not be a reward. It is an hon.
or, but it is also service. The presi.
dent should be fitted for his lob the
same as any other hired man of the
people, and should be subject to q
recall the same as any other officer
Roosevelt has had but one term in hi.
own right, but if he had, his expert
ence, his vigor, his wide acquaintance
with men and affairs, fit him to be
q a oetter president than ever before
the term should be subject to pop.
ular will as it is in England, and il
the people find their servant useful
mere Is no reason why they should
Finally, 1 am for Roosevelt because
know the man; for nearly twenty
pleasure of his friendship. Our ac-
quaintance began outside Of politics and
continues outside of politics. When we
and regular" Republican, l was a
young novelist and Henry George dis
ciple. We met on the common ground
OF lover for the best, and a belief in
American literature and art. We sell
dom talked politics. | never asked him
for anything for myself or any friend
My visits to him were those of one man
Of literary tastes to another. / think
he found my company inoffensive anu
perhaps relief because l did not ask
for anything. Once as 1 was dining
retary Of the navy, he suddenly leaned
back and said: Think of having a
man at my table who knows the diff
ference between par fleche and an
apperago."
He permitted me to share his deepest
aspirations as public servant and
o. once wrote in volume of his essays:
ton square with the principles ex-
pressed in this volume At another
time he said, with profound earnest
ness: Il am president of the whole
people, no matter what their color,
creed or condition, and in all questions
brought to me for answer / try to ge.
at the equities in the case"
l believe he meant this. I am sure
that he has tried in all ways to live up
to his expressed idea. 1t has not been
sources of his information pure. AS his
judgments and his action had to be
based upon the highest authority at
ideal course, but I believe that he has
continued at all times to act as an
honest and high purposed official
90.
Detractors have always been busy
crooked men and crooked business
those who had special privileges to sell
and those who wished to steal social
values, have leagued against him. His
conservation policies were opposed by
those who wanted something for moth
ing and just as the gamblers of Wall
street flew into fury when his action
upset certain illegal combinations OF
capital Wyoming, Colorado and Mon
tana have their barons of spoilation
centers with their Iegions of stock
manipulations and public corruption
lists. Whenever the men of special
privilege are banded together then you
poison the public press, they fill the air
with clouds of calumny. They have
created monster, bug boo, a
wierd devil which they called "Roose-
over against that I am content to
place, my knowledge of the real
Roosevelt. The, considerate gentleman,
the man of wide reading, artistic per-
ception and marvellous memory, who
loves good books and reads them; who
can meet John Morley, or Ambassador
ciates good music and enjoys good
drama; who has made his home the
most distinguished meeting place Of
in America This is the man I am per
mitted to know, and IL is my duty to
say that I not only admire have an
affection for him.
If you would know what Theodore
Roosevelt truly is, you must ask Johi.
Burroughs, Hamilton Wright Mable,
Albert Shaw, William Allen White or
clifford Pinchot. You will not secure
Characterization Of the real Roosevelt
from a Wyoming sheepman who thinks
the government should furnish him
free pasturage for his sheep. Nor from
a group of promoters who are grating
water power from the public domain,
nor from the stock dabbler, nor from
those VINO believe in special privileges
for the few, because Roosevelt is "p-
posed 10 all these men. His face is
sol against the aggrandisements and
they hate him.
Neither must you go to his political