Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-04-27
ROOSEVELT AND CLARA BARTON.

Long after the memory of Theodore Roosevelt
shall have faded in the minds of the people to
the point where it is kept alive only by the
casional publication of the list of presidents of
the United States, when the will serve
only to recall the fact that he was a strenuous
person, smugly complaeent when kind fortune ia
vored him, and sayagey and stupidity enraged
whenever any of his plans misearried; long after
the truly impressive Roosevelt personality shall
have passed away, and only the somewhat sorry
record of his achievements shall remain to give
him pitiful place in the history of this country
then, and for ages thereafter, the name of Clara
Barton, founder of the Red Cross, will live in
the minds of all who love to do honor to the truly
great Of the world.
In view of these inevitable truths regarding
the two noted figures here compared, one cannot
think without shame for the nation of the treat
ment accorded the greater soul of the lesser man
The shame would not be national, of course, if
tragic circumstances had not decreed that Roose-
welt should become president of the United States,
following the assassination of Mckinley
1t was as president. thoughtlessly using the
influence of his Office to aid in advancing the
social ambitions of one as careless OF the general
national and human welfare Roosevelt himself
when her own interests involved, that Theo
dOre Roosevelt took the course which broke the
great heart of Clara Barton and FASTENED her end
Because of whispered innuendoes against tht
woman who had given her life and her private
means to founding and upbuidng the organlza
tiOn which has done much to relieve the sui
ferings of millions of injured men, President The
odore Roosevelt himself resigned from the Rec
Cross and induced other officials, in the bruta
and bullying fashion which even those most un
der the influence of the Roosevelt personality de
plore To- do the The Withdrawals Were
pontedly intended as rebuke to Miss Barton
the noble-souled woman who had denied herself al
the ordinary interests which the most o.
To Of fha vvhl of
envious Of her in the position she had gained
Ii not long before the chief consprato
against the devoted president of the Red eros
exposed aud suspended from membership
and il was Clara Barton that generously set asid
the edict Of suspension which the executive boar,
had decreed against her enemy. But Theodor
Decentralization Roosevelt never apologize,
and never did anything to try to undo. far a
might have lain in his power the cruel injustice
he had done an American woman in whom tn
elements of true greatness existed far beyond an
measure that the Lion Hunter honestly con
claim for himself Miss Barton left the presidenc
Of the Red Cross in grief and sorrow dwelt wit
her through the few remaining years of her lif,
The conduct of Colonel Roosevelt in tina
tragic episode characteristic of the men. II
is the type of nfaible 49, the king can do n
wrong.' He never has confessed a wrong neve
admitted fault or mistake Friends have don
these things for him, in kindness and have bee
called LIAR" for their pains
Theodore Roosevelt is big man. a colosss
figure in the political life of this country am
il is possible that he has in him under the blu,
ter and bullying, some element of greatness. Con
pared, however, with the greatness of the woman
who in all gcntleness and with unassuming eoul
age gave aid and comfort TO hosts of wounde
men and founded organization which ha
lghtcncd the worlds great burden Of sorrow
war. eX-President Roosevelts little show Of grea
ness is pitfnl thing
truly great man would have apologized I
Clara Barton Tor the wrong BE- had done her
his unreaSoning impetuosity. Roosevelt absur
sense Of his own huge Importance often has pr,