Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-10


York October 81. 1858. The Roose-
velts are of Holland stock. the earliest
member of the family In America.
CIaes Maartenzoon Won Roosevelt. set
Ting in New York nearly 800 years
ago From Claes Won Roosevelt the
clan grew and prospered. They were
farmers, shipbuilders and owners. and
merchants of note.
Mr.. Roosevelt's father. himself an
other Theodore. was retired mer-
chant. wealthy and able to bring up
his son In surroundings not often &C
corded future great men. His mother
was Martha Hulloch. Georgian.
The early years of Roosevelt's life
were those of a weak, sickly child.
He was understood and white. and at
one time his family travelled with him
as far as Egypt in search of health.
Because of his physical condition his
parents sought to inculcate in him a
love of outdoor life. and they succeed
ed so we'll that young Theodore, at the
age of twelve. set his heart upon being
a naturalist.
From Weakling to Athlete.
This ambition led him to the fields
and woods and regenerated his phys
ical being to such an extent that when
he entered Harvard in 1876 he was a
robust young man. He boxed, rowed.
ran and swan with an enthusiasm
that was the last word in ''strenuos-
ity." When he graduated in 1880 he
stood twenty-second ON the commence
ment roster.
At about this time Mr.. Roosevelt
gave voice to "a trenchant principle
that has guided his life in later days.
There is nowhere in the world
more ignoble character than the mere
money-getting American. insensible to
very uuty, bent only on amassing
fortune and putting his fortune only
to the basest uses.
With this precept in mind, and his
graduation over, he set about filling
the place occupied by the elder Roose-
welt. who died in 1878. He Joined the
Prison Reform Association and became
:. member of various philanthropic
movements with which Roosevelt the
elder had been associated.
in the fall OF 1850 he married Miss
Alice Hathaway Lee, Boston sirl;
with whom he had become acquainted
during his student eoys. The couple
spent their honeym0 abroad and re-
turned to New York, there Roosevelt
at once plunged into the arduous cam
paign he had mapped out for himself.
Began Study Of Law.
Beside his social and philanthropical
studies he became interested in the law.
studying in the ONCE of his uncle. Rob-
ert B. Roosevelt. and some time later
taking an active part in ward politics
at the solicitation Of some OF his
friends.
A hot debate broke out in the Twen-
ty-First Assembly District Republican
Club. which then stood on 5sth street,
New York. Roosevelt was one Of the
speakers and was opposed by q ma.
erous applause and the young man as
sumed that victory awaited him on the
vote. At the ballot. however. nod
from the party boss decided the mat M
1t was Roosevelt's first taste of ma
He decided that he would like to go
to the state legislature. and made his
and his ambition were greeted with
hearty laugh.
The laugh, however, appeared upon
the other side when the result OF the
gone among his silk-stocking friends.
among the saloonkeepers. among the
voters and had won. This was during
the summer of 1882.
waxed hot In the same district was
William Waldorf Aston, candidate
for Congress on the same ticket that
sa,risd :msarn, Both The men w.asSs
residents of the district caught the in
lection. Millionaires solicited the votes
of their servants. There were fusions
Of all sorts and kinds Of people. but
Young Roosevelt that when the cleo.
tion counts were taken IT was found
that he had ridden to victory, while
.Astor fell far short OF the goal.
Cold Shoulder to Bosses.
TIL. election over and his coveted seat
in the assembly firmly In his posses
sion. the bosses sought him out and
sounded him as to his political creed.
Would he observe the rule of the ma
chine? Would he be amenable to or
DO =? Mr.. Roosevelt would not.
Il do not number party loyalty
among the ten commandments" said
he. and his troubles with the bosses be-
gan.
He was twenty-three when he took
his seat in the state legislature at AL
bany. He was unknown and alone
very much alone. Yet within a short
time he was one of its most notable
members.
His first imbroglio OF note arose
around the report Of a railroad bill by
the railroad committee. Of which Roose-
Welt was a member. The orders from
above were to bottle 1t up" The rail-
roads did not like the measure and the
majority OF the machine men on the
railroad committee showed signs of
favoring their instructions.
But Mr.. Roosevelt interviewed. He
asked to see the bill and calmly placed
IL In his pocket. declaring his intention
of making a minority report on the
measure TO the assembly. His action
threatened a personal encounter, but In
the end the machine men agreed TO
make a report. with the result that the
bill was bottled up in the assembly in =
stead of in tho committee.
The fame OF the young legislato or q
daring won him many friends. however
and though the measure was as effec-
tually killed in open session Is II would
have been in committee. the night he
shoUsd pyatply bts calihar