Evening star., 1919-10-05

BY JOSEPHINE Nj. sTRIckuEp
His Confidential Secretary from, M,
VemDer, 1915. to January. 1919.

.Ass"b oCCEGtUTy from No.
SemDer, 1915, to January 1919.
o man. 1t is said, is a hero to
NJ MS Valet; how much the less.
then, to his confidential Sec
retary. Yet. laying aside my
pror9und admiration and almost reyer-
entail esteem and studying him from
the distance intervening since his
DEATH believe that Theodore Roose-
veit was the least imperfect man OF
MS time. even as he is accepted to
nave been one of the greatest. And
this l write after confidential associa-
ton with him as his secretary for over
two years.
1t is said he was ambitious. Ambi-
tious? He did not love place or power
FOR his personal glory, but for the op-
portunities they brought him to do
good for others. "Dictatoriai?" His
position as the foremost man of the
day entitled him to speak with au-
thority and fnality. "A Politician"
He played" politics as a great mind
plays chess, rather than as a gambler
plays policy" or "stuss." Compari-
sons are customary in these times. but
compare no man with Theodore
Roosevelt.
My first sight OF him came when
was about eight years old, and, as
rabid, Juvenile. democrat. was taken by
some republican friends to a'polittcal
meeting which he addressed In my old
home, Niagara Falls. In the midst Of
his speech. l recollect, an old Fenian.
imported from the Canadian side OF
the river, and primed for the occa-
sion, interrupted with an impudent
question. t..,, y,, ...
Throw him out. cried the crowd.
I was too young to understand the
question. and as and my little COM
panions were there only to see their
father on the stage-he was men,
ber of the reception committee
speeches and Interruptions meant
nothing to us. But do remember that
Col. Roosevelt asked that the question
be repeated. In the meantime, how
ever. the intruder had been ejected'
but I also remember that It occurred
to my childish mind that the great
man" Of the republicans had been
saved embarrassment. and turned to
my little republican companions ana
taunted them. Nor could ! then see
why any one should wish to De re-
publican. Years afterward. when
had made good" as secretary to this
greatest man Of the age. told MIN
of the incident. and he remembered II.
I was Elad that I had been an ardent
democrat in my early youth. for II
gave me an opportunity to appreciate
his humor. My connection with MIN
made mo appreciate, also, how vastly
wrong not alone q juvenile democrat
had been, but also the grown-aps
OF any political creed. Who failed TO
realize how he appreciated Interrupt
tions OF this kind: indeed. he never
faltsred for second in pat reply 70
any kind OF query. :, .e8
i. The next time saw him was on the
day he landed in New York from his
African travels. At that time. though
still q democrat, l was not political
enthusiast Of any class. Politics did,
not interest me. but people----.S.achiev-
srs"--did. On that ovcasion,.- was
most anxious to get . peep at this,
grsat. man. and would have been
much battered. IL I could have met,
him. / hadn't the taintest deal would;
oyer ~ 80 fortunate. but. IN 1sls -
/, ,Was Tar enough advanced 70 want te,
help make politica.a . cleaner fieid AnSsss
20 became interested in the progress 4
sivs party movenentA N g.
Ny personal msstinG with Mr.
Roosevelt occurred in. 1913, when. /
was executive secretary Of the pro-
.gresslvs national committee headauar-,
tsrs. and. strange to say. We were
never introduced. It 80 chanced that
the door of my private once was
open one morning when he. passed
through the hail, Good morning. Miss
Strickler." he said. raising his hat
with that cordial courtesy with which
no man has ever been more gifted.
And my gratiacation at his recognition
was eQualed only by wonder 30 TO
how he knew who was. From that
time on saw more or less of him. but
It was not until was recommended
to him. and accepted. rs his con-
fdential secretary that / really began
4 Nv~rA ANHA