The sun., 1918-07-07
TRUE PATRIOT, SAYS
THEODORE ROUSSEAU
Mitchell Insisted on Serving
L. S., Aviation Being Only
Service Open to Him.
TRAINED FOR INFANTRY
His Former Secretary Tells
How Mayor Ignored Poll
tics to Work for City.
TRAINED FOR INFANTRY

The following appreciation of the late
Rousseau his secretary for four years
in City Hall. and now secretary to
Charles II. Sabin, presid dent OF the Guar
anty Trust Company:
Five years OF such intimate associa-
ton as I had with John Mitchell gives
, one the real value Of man. AS his
secretary during period which held
every variety OF good and III fortune.
watching him and working with him
constantly. ] came to know him as I
have known no one else in my life.
The peculiar and nerve straining ex-
actions OF the office of Mayor. and espe-
cially his particular term as Mayor. en-
forced an association which would
scarcely have been possible had II not
been founded on the strongest friendsh ~.
SO when l say that In his death there
passed the truest, bravest and most un-
selfish spirit I have ever known. l know
that speak the truth.
John Mitchell was no politician. He
had an idea when he became Mayor that
he could do business mans job with
this purpose always first In his mind, he
naturally felt that II would be difficult
hand shaker or a tuft hunter.
You could not make him play to the
gallery. He knew just enough about
politics to know that unless an office
holder strives to please groups and fac
tons to the sacrifice OF real efficiency
reelection is impossible. at least to the
office of Mayor of the city of New York.
Many times in going over the stacks OF
invitations which came to him daily I
would urge him to 60 to this or that
function, which was uninteresting and
! dull, but HIS attendance at which would
please some group or section OF the city,
Intolernnt of UnesscntiaIs.
Great patience was not a virtue OF
his. He was intolerant OF unessentials
! and annoying details He would abso-
lutely refuse to attend these affairs, and
when ] would insist, out OF considera-
| ton for the fact that he would be maxi
ing political friends, ne invariably re-
| piled that ne had no desire 10 gain
| ground politically. that he was through
with political life after this term and
that he merely wished to do the imme-
d!ate Job that lay before him as best he
could.
The detail OF the citys business alb
sorbed his time and his thought thinl,
| no one ever knew more of municlpal
! problems than he He was never so in.
terested as when struggling with some
especially battling problem In connectio ion
with the city government He certainly
came into office at time when a clear
understanding and vigorous grasp OF the
towns affairs were needed.
He fell heir 10 the mounting accumu.
lation of financial emba rrassments which
beset the city after so many years OF
misrule. Every thoughtful citizen knows
how he and his colleagues on the Board
of Estimate. and his commissioners
worked to remedy the situation. The
| friends he made while he was Mayor
were men whose regard was based or
an Intelligent understanding OF his wori
as Mayor. Their friendship vns of the
sort which lasts, and Is not selfish.
"As / look back now az far as thu
summer OF 1914 I realize that his fore
sight-hunch. II you want to call 4
that--about the war was uncanny. Ever
! before the Lusitania was sunk he tolt
me that America would surely be in tn,
war believe that he WAS a born sol
dier, and that II he had held a commits
sion in the line he would have gained
great distinction. Men naturally fol
lowed him as soon as they came reall,
To know him.
THE preparation Of this country fo1
national defence became one Of the dear
est desires Of his heart. He came 4
my house one night to tell me that h,
had made UP his mind to 20 to the frs
Plattsburg camp as a rookie. The ide,
seemed. i am ashamed to say now, q
| little fantastic to me, but when | cam,
pretty soon to understand the spirit be
hind his intention OF course appreciated