The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-13
A KANSAN IN NEW YORK.
CHAPTER Ill.
A Visit With T. R.-Continued.

Cf1AHlEfS LII.
A Visit With T. R.-Continued.
Archie. 1 am glad to say, is get
ting along nicely. He was grievous-
ly wounded but thanks to the surgical
skill available, am told that he will
retain the use of his arm and that he
will not be a cripple. He is in Paris
hospital in good hands" (The writer
learned from Major Simmons. who
was in Topeka the other day, that
Captain Arches shoulder was badly
shattered, that his leg was severely
lacerated and that he Is under the
care of Doctor Lambert, Colonel
Roosevelt's own physician, who has
been with him upon many expedi-
tions.)
Kermit. is the only one of your
boys L have ever met, colonel. He
and Mrs. Roosevelt were at the lunch
con in the White House to which you
kindly invited me sixteen years ago.
Kermit is in Mesopotamia. is he not ?"
Eyes, he has been there, but now
that things are more quiet in that re-
gion he is, 1 hear, about to be trans
ferred to the French front. I am told,
but am not saying it with authority.
but with satisfaction. of course, that
Kermit is to be promoted to a cap
taincy."
1 had already read Roosevelts
strong. timely editorial contributed to
the current, May. number of the Met
ropolitan Magazins: the leading ar
ticle in the issue, entitled, Lincoln
uppermost in my mind at the time,
and in view of the criticism coming
from certain quarters toward the for
mer president it seemed to me partic-
ulariy sharp pointed and effective; it
is worthy of general reading just now
because it puts certain matters in their
proper perspective.
In this connection I ventured this
statement: Colonel, II you or any
one had criticised President Wilson
today as Abraham Lincoln, then in
congress, criticised President Polk in
1S4s at the time this country was at
war with Mexico, the critic would
have been ostracized.
He would have been ostracised, !"
said the colonel.
Roosevelt has a forceful, custom
| those who have talked with him will
recall, of repeating the last words
from some one with whom he is in
conversation and with whom he agrees
as to the sentiment expressed at the
time.
Colonel Roosevelt's idea. as I'M
derstand it and as he makes it plain in
the magazine article, is that criticism
of the administration is both advisa BILE
and essential to the country's welfare:
offer some Of this criticism, but that
the criticism is constructive.
1t is thru criticism of this sort from
the newspapers and other influences
that the administration has time and
again modified it's views and the ac-
lions that have resulted therefrom
This is true to the extent that the
president has repeatedly reversed him.
self; but be it understood. has done sc
for the country's good.
1t is thru constructive criticism
from an intelligent standpoint, and
experienced standpoint as well, that
country, of course, correspondence
profits.
Lincoln's idea and Roosevelt's idea
are identical. Lincoln had President
Polk to deal with in the Mexican war
and President Wilson is to be consid.
cred, of course, in thi. great war.
| Far be it from the State Journal tc
criticise President Wilson; that is, t.
criticise him in any narrow or parti.
san spirit. President Wilson is doins
great things today, Secretary Baker /.
doing great things and Secretary Dan
iels has been doing wonderful things
but the present expedition of affairs il
the army and navy and diplomatic cir
cles is largely the result of a reversa
of views on the part of the executive
of this country.
This is not a reflection upon tn,
present day activities of the presi
dent and his secretaries in the cabi
net: but it is clearly apparent t,
everyone that the administration wa
a year or two behind: we were no
prepared; we were slow in preparing
but we are getting prepared fast now
we are doing wonderful things il
sending thousands upon thousands o
our soldiers and huge quantities O
munitions to the front, and this pa
per is n, disposed at present to CT
over Spilled milk. but to commend tn
administration for what it is doin
now. Meanwhile, France and Grea
Britain have been holding the lin
and waiting upon US to fully catch VI
But let Colonel Roosevelt speak 70
! himself. as he does in the magazine
and we hope our readers will get hol
of lit. Fearing many cannot, readil,