The Washington times., 1917-05-17
LETTERS TO Times
FROM ITS READERS
Mrs. Hale Believes Roosevelt
Would Make AtOnement.
SEES STRANGE war MOTIVE
Alleges Colonel Would Repay for
San Juan Aafir.
To the Editor of THE TINES:

TO the Editor Of THE TINES:
There is one aspect of coIopeI
Koosevelt's insistent desire to lead an
expeditionary force to the European
battle front that has not been called
10 public attention; but which. II
recognized now that Congress has
oeen won over, might operate more
powerfully in breaking down the re.
naming opposition to the coloners
than any other hitherto
In lS9s' our valiant T. R. made and
won the race for governor OF New
York ION his Cuban war record ;, sc.
cording to one OF his most Admitting
Diosraphers, Francis Leupp.
AS Is well known, the piece de
resistance OF Roosevelt's reputed Gu
pan triumphs. was leading the assault
on the Spanish block house at the
TOP OF San Juan Hill, on July 3. 1895.
ana capturing the fort. The story
OF this exploit went the round OF the
american press at the time. and later
us most salient feature, Roosevelt on
horseback leading the charge. was
committed to canvas by Verstchagin,
the veteran Russian, painter of war
scenes. who in 1902-Mr. Roosevelt
being President-came to washing
ton and was stationed at Fort Myer
while executing the painting. So firm
~ olo thls picture and the newspaper
account fix in the public mind the
San Juan Hill legend as a Roosevelt
military feat, that for years. both
at bone and abroad, he was every.
where acclaimed as 'the hero OF San
Juan"
Was Some Distance Away,
But now, thanks chiefly, may say.
to my patient research among of.
ficlal records and historic documents,
ana the evidence set forth In ~Roose-
veietian Fact and Fable" pretty near
ly everybody in this country knows
that, so far from leading the famous
San Juan HIN charge, Colonel Roose-
welt bore not even an inconspicuous
part in IL: that he was not within a
third Of a mile OF the hill when the
charge was made by the infantry of
Kent and Hawkins. with not a horse
in the fight; and that the Colonel
upon his own admission-viewedt their
movements from the crest OF Kettle
HILL a small knoll to the right of
San Juan ridge proper, on which
were the main Spanish entrench-
ments. and separated from them by an
open grass-cOvered glade a third of a
mile wide. (See pp. 134-l36. "The
Rough Riders" RooseveIt.l
At the time the commander Of
the Rough Riders" captured the
governorship of New York. ION his
war record" the san Juan Hill myth
was generally accepted as historic
fact: and as the governOrship Of New
York proved in his case to be the
stepping stone to the White House, u
may be truly said that his whole sub
sequent career, with all its honors
and emolument. rested on this Dor
rowed-or stolen-military achieve
ment
In recent years l have seen the pub
lished statement more than once that
when questioned as TO his dearest
wish in life, Colonel Roosevelt's in
variable answer had come quick and
sharp: TO lead a cavalry chsrge!"
For His Souls Sake.
This always suggested to my mind
the instances recorded of individuals
in private life who. having yielded to
the temptation TO defraud or embez-
zle. and escaping the laws penalties
therefor. have-after years OF wres-
inns WIN 1hS COhhGlenCe-NOl-I
UNFAIRLY restored their ill-Kotten
gains. Thus only can l interpret Col
Onel Roosevelt's expression about GO
ing into this war for his souls sake"
i can understand his wish TO make
restitution: TO square up with the
truth of history: to perform some
heroic deed. exceeding in magnitude
even the one whose popular award
ent to him by mistake in 1898; and,
In this light. the offer OF his services
to the War Department is vested with
a certain pathetic nobility Of soul,
which should clear II of the imputa-
tion OF mere reckless daring or thirst
for military glory ascribed to it by
some.
II the Coloners motive is in anywise
what l have indicated-and as IL may
quite conceivably be such-even II un-
shall give him the beneft
of the doubt-his offer should be no
more refused than the conscience
money" of any other penitent; and /, |
for one, should accord him more honor
than / do most warriors And while
! have been heretofore the most pains
taking collector and the most pitiless
chronicler OF damaging facts in his
public record, I should respect his
blood atonement" in this matter, and
spread over his former misdeeds the |
charity OF my silence.
MRS. ANNIE RILEY HALE.
Author OF "Rooseveltian Fact and |
Fable"
1888 street.