The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-10
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 Tribute to Roosevelt
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pareGness before the United States en- tered the world war, Senator Lodge Sc i'd.
 He would have had us protest and take action at the very beginning in 1914, when
 Belgium was invaded. He would have had us go to war when the murders of the Lusitania were perpetrated. He tried to stir the soul and rouse the spirit of the American people, and despite every obstacle he did awaken them, so that wEen the hour came, in April. 1917. a large proportion of the American peo-
 pie were even then ready in spirit and in hope.
 How telling his work has been was proved by the confession of his country 2 el.tmies, for when he died, the only dis cordant note, the only harsh words, came fl om the German press Germany knew whose voice 1t was that had more pow erfully than any other called Americans to the battle in behalf of freedom and civilization"
 Because he was not permitted to go to Europe at the head of a body Of sole'ers, said Mir. Lodge. Roosevelt was der jed the reward which he would have ranked above all others, the great prize of death in battle.'"
 SEES RIGHT PREVAIL
 ''He lived to see right prevail" con- tir ued the senator. '"He lived to see civilization triumph over organized bar barism, and there was great joy in his heart In all his last days the thoughts which filled his mind were to secure peace which should render Germany for ever harmless and advance the cause of ordered freedom in every land and among every race This occupied him to the exclusion of everything else ex- cept what he called and what we like to call Anericanism. There was no hour down to the end when he would not turn aside from everything else to preach the doctrine of Americanism. of the prin- ciples and the faith upon which Ameri- car government rested and which all true Americans should wear in their heart Of hearts.
 .IIe was a great patriot. great man; above all, a great American. His coun try was the ruling. mastering passion or his life, from the beginning even unto the end.
 What a man was is ever more impor- tant than what he did. Theodore Roose- welt always believed that character was of greater worth and moment than any thing else. He possessed abilities of the first order. which he was disposed to un- der rate because he set so much greater store upon the moral qualities which we bring together under the single word
 character
 Appraising Theodore Roosevelt's abili- ties. Mr. Lodge said in part:
 He had a powerful, well-trained, ever active mind He thought clearly, inde- pendently, and with originality and inn agination These great gifts were sus- tained by an extraordinary power of ac- quisition, joined to a greater quickness of apprehension, greater swiftness in seizing upon the essence Of question. than I have ever happened to see in any other man.
 'He had a capacity for concentration which enabled him to read with remark able rapidity anything which he took up. He knew and held details always at his command, but he was never mastered by them. He never failed to see the forest on account of the trees or the city on account of the houses.
 FULL OF FORCE AND VIGOR Tn speaking, as in writing, he was al ways full of force and vigor. He had a large capacity for admin istration, clearness of vision, promptness in decision. and thorough apprehension of what constituted efficient organiza- ton.
 The first requisite of leadership is to lead. and that ability Theodore Roose, velt possessed in full measure. His in- stinct was always to say come rather : than go and he had the talent of com mand. He also had the rare gift of arrestins attention sharply and suddenly, very precious attribute. ts "Roosevelt was always advancing. al ways struggling to make things better to carry some much needed reform, and help humanity to a larger chance, to a rairer condition, to a happier life. More over, he looked always for an ethical question He was at his best when he was fighting the battle of right against wrong The criticism most commonly mads