Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-07-12
ROOSEVELT AND THE HAzEI.NUT

Laying aside all idea of persona
preference IN the matter, let us con.
slider for moment, the actions and
course of Theodore Roosevelt since he
emerged from the iungles of Africa
and arrived safe on the shores of his
native land, AZ that time he was Ger
tainly the foremost American citizen,
Men Of all parties Respected him and
honered his opinions. Had he retired
to his home at oyster Bay, and re-
trained from taking an active hand in
politics he would still be the greatest
factor In American politics today,
rather than in his present danger of
becoming a down and outer, Theo-
dore should have become an oraclc
sitting in Judgment upon the action
OF the people, and giving advice to
those who gropc in darkness,
The story is related that a certain
southern dar<cy who had resided for
many years in the ueighhorhood. and
attained a great age, was looked up
on as an oracle, and possessed ot
wonderful knowledge and power.
when others of his race wanted in
formation upon any subject they con-
suited him, and he listened to them in
all seriousness. lie took their cases
under adviscmeut and often, with
great solcmnity, and much mysterious
nccromaucN he gave them a hazel
nut and told them to 80 their way.
They went taking the hazel nut With
them, their minds filled with wonder
mcut, They didn't know what the
hazel nut was for hut they knew
that the oracle had given it 70 them
and hence there must Ne some Won
dertul efficacy about H. So they
treasured the hazel nut and whisper
cd to others ot the great wisdom VI
the oracle and thus others consulted
him and duly received their hazel
nuts, Thus time went on until the
church society decided TO hold an
opCn~ar social Chinese lanterns
were to hc a feature Vt the dcCora-
tions, hut there was much spC,ula-
tiou regarding the possibility Of rain
runjpg the show. Finally they con-
suited the oracle, They laid their case
before him, They said they didn't
want to hold the social and hans out
their lanterns only to have them
spoiled NY rain, Wouldn't he please
inform them regarding the probable
state ot the weather on the ujght in
question" Here was poser Tor the
oracle, re found himself compelled
to take a stand that might ruin his
reputation Ii he told them there
would I've no rain. and ram tcl. he
would at once lose caste tn the cNm-
munity, while. ou the other hand. &c
he predicted RAIN and the werthcy .
proved tine. he would lose Cut rsat
way
EUt he MAS equal az the 5mcrSeusy .
After due de)bcvat.ou he said. "puj
cut your lanterns" and that seemed
to settle 10 After elaborate prcrSra-
tiouS the n.Eht vi the SNcjal arrived .
hut iu the U.5~, ot the festivities. a
ho0yN rain storm came up apd JAc .
water tsu IN torrents The erraSed .
d0rk,N.S rushed Co the oracle and am
Srily denounced him toy gca1nA
them aSJray
"AA svyuo,y didn't do no such
thnS. >atj hs. All done tole ~ an
u pvt oUJ l.,. lanterns and yo--au
didu to hit - Be rain came au5 put
dom oug ter Ne. yo, tj5ut w.r& me.
Su6 uCN Scc What Nc.au Sot
10 Was a ylt~,hgr avcuwcot arG ths
skunk away more certain
than ever th.-t Jrc oracle VAS indeed
d WISE man
Colonel Roosevelt should have re-
saircd 40 ONsycr 1ssy and handed ,rt
ne hSEel nuts lEc should have ~p,-
ken in pSusblgS arG N.StrS Ee,ees-
ions would hsNc -s&s 81 gr7-,ascS
n MS shrine sna rcyl-res ret-eSrrs
.nd cor65ert thst D. Vas tne ore
.rost u,Sn ia thc country.
But no He wmre5 irtc are Ntu
-orS 6sht ans sct thc vro-ss c- "a.
le has oeeu ecttfng ere vo-S- cf "a
yer slncc ans the c'iwaN csrt st
hsozg,a uhc1 Ms rsrSsasf auec.ts,-
,,to1es a rutc scrt srt D. u,stc -at-
'-S vc-S, So far as he IS uers,-s-rr
,-ce--eA ey eSu-S ire RcpasU,s-
s-ty ara sest-e no a ss5cSsca ct /
S ru-.
r. rs. snel1E nsyc rsSscs c-f t,r
.rl- -zt rs-nt- tnr- tne ,s---