The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-09-15
ROOSEVELT
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
tos,ss,usl fro. ToursA Pro,

OF humanity. Cuba was at our very
TO sit supine and watch her death
agony. IL was our duty. even more from
the standpoint OF National honor than
from the standpoint of National inter-
est. to stop the devastation and de-
struction. Because OF these consider
atoms I favored war: and today. when
In retrospect IL Is easier to see things
clearly. there are few humane and nom
oiabl men who do not believe that the
war was both just and necessary.
The big ftnanciers and the men gen
orally who were susceptible to touch on
the money nerve. and who cared moth
ing for national honor II IL conflicted
even temporarily with business pros
perity. were against the war. The moro
fatuous type OF philanthropist agreed
with them. The newspapers controlled
by. or run In the interests of, these two
classes deprecated war. and did every
thing In their power to prevent any pre-
paration for war. As whole the peo-
pie In congress were at that time land
are now shortsighted set as regards
few men. Senators Cushman K. Davis.
and ii. c. Lodge. for instance and John
'In a letter written me just before
became assistant secretary. Senator Da-
Wis unburdened his mind about one of
the foolish peace" proposals OF that
period: his letter running In part: Il left
the senate chamber about 3 O'Clock this
afternoon when there was going on a
deal OF moving and chattering over the
treaty by which the United states is TO
be bound to arbitrate its sovereign func-
tions-for policies are matters of SOW
ereignty. The alteration Of the
social movement are neither progress
nor retrogression- They represent mere
line of the great orbit Tennyson knew
this when he wrote that fine and noble
Maud. / often read IL, for to do so
does me good After quoting one of
M at WNA ~ n.
world will como out all right Let him
who believes IN the decline OF the mill
tary spirit observe the boys OF a COM
mon school during the recess or the
patriotism speaks out from Its rank and
file and demands action or expression,
and when. thereupon. the business man
so called places his hand on his stack OF
reds as n he feared a policeman were
about 20 disturb the game. and protests
until American patriotism ceases to
continue TO speak as IL had started TO do
why. you and l get mad. and swear.
hope you will he with us here after
March ith We can then pass Judgment
together on the things we don't like.
and together Indulge In hopes that 1
believe are prophetic"
Morgan. who did look ahead: but most
OF the congressman were content to fol-
low the worst OF all possible courses.
that Is 10 pass resolutions which made
war more likely; and Vet to decline to
take measures which would enable US
to meet the war II ~ did come
However in the navy department We
were able TO do a good deal thanks TO
the energy and ability Of some Of the
bureau chiefs and TO the general good
tone Of the service. I soon found nv
natural friends and allies I'm such men
as Evans. Taylor. sampson. Wainwright
Rrownson. Schroeder. hartford. Covles
cameron Winslow. and many others like
them. used all the power there was in
my office 20 aid these men I'm getting the
material ready. ] also tried 20 gather
from every source information as TO
who the best men were to occupy the
fighting positions
The Man who was Ready.
sound naval opinion was overwheiri-
inSly In favor OF Dewey TO command one
squadron. I was already watching him
TOT had been struck by an incident in
MS past career. IL was at time whom
Dewey was OF the Argentine and Was
told 60 get ready 20 move 10 the othsS
coast Of South America II the move
have coal. and vet n he did not make
the move the coal would not he needed.
IN such case a man afraid OF RESPONSE
bility always acts rig.dly by the reguia-
lions and communicates with the de-
partment at home to get authority for
everything he does: and therefore he
usually arcomplishes nothing whatever
but IL able 20 satisfy all individuais
with red-tape minds by triumphaniiv
pointing out his compliance with the
N''. HNO'. IN u fFlSlSs the man worth
his salt IL the man who meets the-peed.
or the situation IN whatever way il nee
essary. Dewey purchased the coal and
was ready 10 move az once ~ need arose
Tho anafr blew over. the need 20 r,"~s
did not occur. and for some time there
seemed 70 he a chance that Dewey would
got into trouble over having purchased
he coal. for our people are Ike airnoq,
all other peoples IN requiring reRpoua'hfe
onlcers under such conditions TO decide
nt their own personal peril. no matter
which course hey follow However ,be
eople higher up ultimately stood nv
Devcy
The incident made me feel that here
Wa man VINO could be relied upon 70
prepare IN advance. and 10 act uror1p'i,-
fearleSsly. and on his own respor a MI ~
when the emergency arose Accordingly
did my best % Eet him put So command
~ the Asiatic feet the feet where 1, vas