Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-12
France Wants Roosevelt

Georges Clemenceau, former pre-.
mier of France, in letter to Presi.
dent Wilson, has made an eloquent
pie afor the presence of Roosevelt ir
France. He sums up so admirably
the arguments made by numerou!
newspapers of this country in behalf
of the organization of a Roosevelt
division for duty in France that, com.
ing from one of the great statesme er
of the world and a man eminently
qualified to judge the needs and the
desires of the French people, what
he has to say with regard to Colone
Roosevelt is we'll worth repeating
This portion of his letter follows:
Allow me to say in all candor
that. at the present moment there
Is in france one name which en-
tervention. 1t is the name of
Roosevelt, your predecessor, even
your rival, but with whom there
can now be no other rivalry than
that Of heartening success. | only
saw Roosevelt once in my life. 1t
was just after l laid down office
and he had returned from lion
hunt in Africa. He is an idealist,
imbued with simple, vital ideal
ism. Hence his, influence on.
crowd; his prestige, to ure the
right expression.
1t is possible that your own
mind, inclosed in it's austere legal
frontiers. which has been the
source of so many noble actions,
has failed to be impressed by the
vital hold which personalities
like Roosevelt have on the popu-
lar imagination. But you are too
the fact that the influence on the
people of great leaders of men
often has exceeded their personal
merits. thanks to the legendry
att tR,Ii linz rhn -
Roosevelt has this legendary force
in our country at this time, and,
in my opinion, 1t would be great
error to neglect a force which
everything counselS us to make
use of as quickly as possible.
Roosevelt was one of the great
est craftsmen in the great labori-
Gus work which will constitute
your tBs SBGry yonf 1T Wo namse assesse arse
coupled in our minds. He, more
over, followed your idea. He
wished to raise four volunteer di-
visions, of infantry, to be incor-
gress did not withhold its con-
sent. II the law has charged you,
the President, with all the prac-
tical issues of the undertaking, it
is no less true that Roosevelt rep
resents a vast potential factor
which no statesman is able to
overlook.
Roosevelt cannot come alone,
for his prestige on our battlefields
demands that he come with the
prestige conferred on him by his
countrymen. only claim for
Roosevelt what he claims for him.
self-the right to appear on the
battlefield, surrounded by his
comrades.
We have just heard of the ar
rival of the first American unit at
our front. All our hearts beat
fast. With what joy our soldiers
greeted the starry banner Yet
you must know, Mr.. President,
that more than one of our poilus
asked his comrade, But where is
Roosevelt? ! don't see him"
1t is to convey this remark to
you, not knowing whether my
message will reach you, that I
have written this letter. You will
forgive me, for 1T is the rule in
democracies that each at his hour
tries to make himself heard.
Eminent Americans have con-
suited our military leaders on the
problems of our common cam
paign. 1t is not for me to dispute
technical questions; my ambition
is more modest. I have not con-
suited our soldiers, but it was not
necessary, for I have seen them
work and know them we'll. Send
them Roosevelt. / tell you, be-
cause I know it-it will gladden.
their hearts.
What, one wonders, will the PresI
dnet be able to say in reply?