The Sauk Centre herald., 1912-10-24

Roosevelts character is his vital in!
terest in his fellowmen. All prob,
lens that directly concern humanity
concern him. Problems that do not.
directly concern humanity he is not
interested in. Philosophical ques-
tions, theological questions, economic
questions, legal questions, scientific
questions, interest him as they touch
life, and only as they touch life Wide
as are his interests-and | know no
man whose horizon is wider or whose
life is filled with more multifarious
, interestS-they> are all practical
Whatever the circumference of the
circle may seem to be, the center of
it is always life-mainly human life
"He is interested in the minds of
men, but not in the philosophical the
cries of the schools; in practical
righteousness, but not in theological
theories; in the maintenance of So
cial justice, but not in legal formu-
laries and fictions; in the protection
Of the home, but not in ecclesiastical
theories about marriage and divorce;
in improving the condition of the
workingmen and their wives and chill
Gren, but not in economic theories
about labor and capital 1T Is partly
, because the tariff question ana the
currency question have been present
ed as economic problems not SIS ha1
man problems, that they have but
slightly interested him, and spafelss:
because other human problems have,
seemed to him, as they do to me; of.
greater immediate Importance.
"This regard for his fellow men Isl
far removed from any spirit of pat;
ronage. 1t is spirit not only OFF
interest in his fellow men, but of rel
speot for them. His belief in thes
common people is not merely polls
tical principle, it is a fundamental
faith. This faith in his fellow meis
makes him the reverse of opinionateS
Or headstrong.
has called the enthusiasm of humart
ity is the controlling characteristic il
Mr.. Roosevelt's caracter and conducf
Has No Political Ambition. S,
GIN the interval which elapsed be
tween his return from Africa in June
1910, and his consent given to seve,
governors to become a candidate TO
the presidential nomination we Were
in constant and itimate companion
ship. l saw letters which he wrote
I consulted with him on actions which
he took, was present in conference
which he held with leading public mel
from various parts of the country. IS
say with confident assurance that h
did not desire to enter again intl
political campaigning. He had NJ
political ambition to assume the du
ties of the presidency. He wished Il
avoid these duties if he could do S;
with honor His answer in letter,
and conferences, reiterated in literal
ly hundreds of cases, was always tn
same: 4 do not wish to be a candi
date So long as there was any pros
pect that Mr.. La Toilette could ant,
would be accepted as leader of thes
Progressive party movement Mr.
Roosevelt abstained from political ac,
tivity. So far as he could conscient
tiously do so, he gave his support te
Mr.. Taft's administration During al
that time I never heard him, and my
associates never heard from him, any
word of unkindness or hostility tot
ward Mr.. Taft, though undoubtedly h.
shared with the great majorit
throughout the country their disaI
pointment in Mr. Taft's administrd
tion. Not until Mr.. La Toilette hal
broken down nervously in his PhilI
delphia speech, and his own friend
had counseled him to withdraw, an
it became apparent to those who wei
interested in the Progressive print
pies and the Progressive moveaet9
that the movement was in danger E
utter failure for want of a natiol
leader, did Mr.. Roosevelt reluctana
consent to accept the leaders,
which was urged upon him. Il
Why He Became Candidate. =
ri recall as write these lines 81
day when that decision was appareSs
Continued on page I