Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-09-16
WHY TEDDY
IS POPULAR
ROUGH RIDER EXPLAINS HIS
HOLD ON PEOPLE.
WAS POSTMASTER OF REGIMENT
j. ID. Raudebaugh of This City, Inti-
mately Associated With Colonel
Roosevelt i'm San Juan Campaign,
Tells Secret of Popularity.

1t is not generally known that one
of Ashland's citizens was personally
and intimately acquainted with
Colonel Roosevelt during the Cuban
campaign, but such is the fact. j.
D. Raudebaugh of 1872 First avenue
was a private in A troop, First
U. S. Volunteer Cavalry, which went
down into history as Roosevelt's
Rough Riders. Mr.. Raudebaugh was
detailed as regimental postmaster
and was thrown into close compan-
ionship and intimate relationship
with Colonel Roosevelt. Mr.. Raude-
baugh, like all other members of that
famous regiment, is a Bull Moose
with big B and a big NJ and is not
reluctant to tell of the reason why
all the boys swear by their former
commander. In an interview with a
Tidings representative, he, in answer
to the question, why did they all
not only admire but love ROOSEVELT"
Mr.. Raudebaugh replied: 1T was
because of his unselfishness. 1t was
his men first and then his officers
His whole thoughts were for the bet
terment of their conditions.
THE postoffice was in Colonel
Roosevelt's headquarters and there
were coming constant calls for him.
When duties did not call him else
where he was almost invariably to
be found among a party of privates,
telling stories, swapping experiences
and always making light of the hard
ships He seldom ate in officers
mess but seemed to prefer partaking
of the privates' fare in some squad
mess.
"One instance of his thoughtful-
ness: When the troops were in Cuba
the only tobacco to be had was the
native Cuban stuff, which was very
strong in. nicotine and extremely UNI
wholesome. Colonel Roosevelt at his
own expense had boatload of tobac-
co shipped from the United States
and issued a ration of one pound OF
chewing and one pound of smoking
not only to every member of his own
regiment, but to every man in the
cavalry division.
1T is according to military regu'
lations for privateS, when off duty
to rise when regimental officer ap'
pears, and stand at attention and sa
lutte and remain at attention until the
officer had passed on. When Colone
Roosevelt would approach a groul
of the boys and they would start tC
rise he would sing out, Never mint
that, boys. 1t is a good thing t.
know what to do, but we enlisted t.
fight, not to put on style
He always made it his busines
when any of the boys were in tn
hospital to call on them as often a
his duties would permit and to chez
them up in every way possible. Whel
was in the hospital during thre
days he visited us twice. He woul
go around to- each soldier individu
ally and ask what he could do TO
them and even write letters for thos
who were unable to do so.
ANY time when he was transact
ing business with officers and one @
the privates came and asked for hiI
he got a moment of his time and
prompt and fair consideration of hi
request. And on any subject, whic
depended on his decision, he woul
bestow an instant of intense though
and then his answer would com
, quick and clear and it was alway
just and fair. He did not, as ha
, been charged, decide important ques
tions without thought, but gave thel
intense thought. | was in his qual
ters nearly all the time when i
| charge of the regimental mail an
many times watched the peculiar e.
, preston of intense application whic
always came over his face when h
. was deciding question.
= After seeing Roosevelts stron
interest in his men and his unselfis
care for their welfare, no one wh
5 knew him intimately, and who We
not actuated in the other directio
S by selfish motives, could fail to SUI
l port him. Many time have | quie
+. ly listened to discussions of Roos
Y welt and his policies, my own a
: quaintance with him being unknow
Y and never did | hear one man wi
ever served under him or came clos
ly in touch with him say one wol
{ against him.
Why should such a regiment NJ
be famous?
a a First. they were fighting in
, great cause, and having such lea
= er as he is, big of heart, clear
. thought, pure of mind and physical
q able to say, as he always did, Con
y on boys
. Second, as we all loved him, v
could not be whipped, we were as OF
man-because of his actions al
&c kindness toward us we would ha
&c gone through hell fire for him.
Dc He would never allow the 'retrei
&c to be blown on the bugle We a
c not going to learn how it sounC
&c We do not need it and never will
&c Why should not such man be pr
p gressive?
,c He has a wonderful memory. n
Do only can he give the name of eve
2c trooper, but can tell you his fiji
2c name; where he is now if aliV
Dc where and when he died, If dead.
Sc These are a few of the ma
Oc reasons which make every Rou
60 Rider almost an idolator Of Roo
5c welt and make them one and all f,
90 like refuting the charge that
1c wants to be a king in the prom
-, way that the western bows have