The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-01-31
ROOSEVELT NO ATTIC PHILOSO
PIER

The idea seems to be gaining
ground that ex-President Roosevelt
is not only Americas, but the world
foremost citizen, recent expression
to that effect has been received with
out any startling denunciation
which would indicate that there il
color enough of truth in the asser'
ton to make the estimate entirely
sane. With this view of the fact II
might be we'll to single out what In
Roosevelt seems the characteristic
element that dominates his individu.
atty.
The crying need of the hour seem:
to be for efficient activity and we
are constrained to believe that Roose-
welt is the most able exponent of thi;
idea in his age. The day of the AT
tic philosopher" is past and the
browser in the worlds great libraries
and the dreamers who plan utopia:
live in a world to themselves unknown
and do little or nothing to color the
current of the life about them. But
the world demands action and the
worlds forces need direction. The
man Of the hour Is not only the one
who sees the perilous condition but
who knows what 10 do and does it.
Roosevelt has been no dreamer. nc
dilettante. He has been a man OF
action, and of efficient action. 1t is
this activity that has characterized
his work and has won for him the
trust and confidence of the people
When a very young man he showed
his moral fiber by choosing to forego
the life of pleasure and social honor
that might have been his as one OF
New Yorks Four Hundred and chose
rather the life of privation and hard
ship of a western ranchman. This
was not done idly nor unadvisedly
but with a purpose.
With a foresight not common tc
youth, he studied the needs of his
future. He realized his undeveloped
physical condition. He saw the emp.
tiness and the utter uselessness OF
the social life in a great city and the
vast benefits to be gained from a life
in the western open. Already stu
dent of American history and Amer
lean life. he now made an opportun-
ity for himself to study American cit
izenship in the making and touch the
real life of the nation from the view.
point of pioneer.
Upon returning to his native
state to enter actively into political
service he had, to use his own ex-
preston, Gifted his own weight" a
wise precept he continuously keeps
before the minds of young men Of po-
litical ambition. AS an official OF
could be enforced and that officials
could be made to do their whole Of
of civil service commissioners he be-
came an expert in the field of ma
tional administration. His achieve
ments as Police Commissioner OF New
York City are fresh in the minds o.
the American people. The practica
efficiency with which he handled the
affairs of the navy while acting as
sistant secretary was in keeping with
the clean sweep" principles of hi.
life.
His services in the war with Spain
while fascinating as a war story. wa,
full of the dogged determination O,
honest endeayor that he holds indis
pensiols to any attempt at effort The
governorship of New York was ham
died with his characteristic appre-
citation and industry, bringing valua-
BILE results both to himself and TO his
state. Taking the oath of office as
Vice President Of the United States
he turned the phrasing Of the custo-
mary acceptance OF such an honor
and said. Il thank you for the op-
portunities Of this office" When "a
man the opportunities Of an office
overshadow its honor there is a hope
for something more than the ordinary
and what Roosevelt made out OF
that opportunity is written large in
the history of the country.
When the presidency Of the United
States came to him he was not ir
confusion over the great responsible.
ity. He had been training himself il
efficiency for just such a response.
bility. From early manhood having
accepted every task as worthy Of hi
entire energy and Of his bes
thought. having seen in every dut,
great opportunity for public serv.
ice. he came to the presidency pc.
culiarly fitted 10 make himself fell
by the people.
His views Of citizenship that a!