Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-31
: PRIVATE VERSUS OFFICER

PRIVATE VERSUS OFFICER
Buck Private and Lieut.. Col. Would
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Philosophers have said war is the
great leveler," but not ,infrequently it
turns out that wars aftermath, peace
!iisscin truth. the greatest leveler, and
political events in the second assem-
bly, district of New York have brought
to pass a situation which more or less
proves that fact. ts,s6J ~
InSears gone by the late ex-Prcsi-
dent Theodore Roosevelt, Teddy"
| the 100 per cent. American controlled
the districts political destinies, To
1.-THE people of Oyster Bay Of which
the Second district is the seats Ted.
dy" was almost god. His word was
their law. Then the grim reaper
swept him away! ~ e.
But today there is another Teddy
Roosevelt growing UP among the folks
of ( rural Oyster Bay Lieutenant
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, son Iof
the great leader, and he has ambi-
tions. to follow in the well-marked
footprints of his honored father
Starting from the bottom of the lad
der. ne is candidate for the 'tate
Easssmbly on the. Republican ticket.
And opposing him who, as a lieute.t-
ant colonel. was second in comma'n9
OF an entire regiment, is a former
buck private, Elias Raft, Inc son "a :.
tailor. = -
f. Thus the man who led thousands
into battle and the man who a few
months ago accepted as, an inviolate
law every command of the other,
have been placed in the eIsame plane.
Though one is Rich and the other
's a struggling lawyer, Democratic
America has accorded both equal
iaights in the race for public office. y,
Elias Raft came into the race al
most unknown, unheralded. When
The Republicans nominated Lieuten-
! INT Colonel Roosevelt the people
lspcke Of his election as a foregone
| conclusion. In fact, some of the lead
ing Democrats of Oyster Bay, thought
fstt would rbe wise to- tndorse Rim and
assure his election. But the leaders
81 Nofth. Hampstead, a township the
! slzeNof Oyster Bay, objected. and
Fan was nominated by the Demo-
lSrats. : 'a I; Z ~, > ,,.aa;',s.:H, - ~
The nomination aroused LITTLE en-
| thusiasm even in Raffs own party;
Lit was done. as a matter Of form.
Then Raft mounted the platforms for
\ his first speech My hat Is In the
5rfnH ,;and 1t is not my fathers hat,
sither," he said. The Democrats
realized they have picked a live
4 wire" 1t looked like Mr.. Roosevelfs
'walkover' would wind up in an .ex:-
\ arng ihHrsa race" ana according to
Eaile reports; from the district the buck
priyate's chances are improving daily.
The following events in the lives Of
the two men may show the contrast
between them: q
70, Theodore Roosevelt-son of an ex-
| president Of the United States. Gradu-
ate of Boys Academy. Albany;
Groton school and Harvard univer-
sity: played ons theJ Harvard varsity
football team; married Miss Eleanor
Butler. Alexander, daughter OF
wealthy and prominent parents; rep
resented Hartford Carpet campany
in San Fancisco, later became a
bond salesman; commissioned lieu-
tenant. in First Officers Training
camp at Plattsburg and captain in
| the second camp; promoted to major
Mt outbreak of war; took battalion
Of Twenty-sixth infantry to. France,
was wounded. awarded the Croix dc
Guerre, made lieutenant colonel; re-
| turning home, decided to enter pol
tiles. .f,- ..r. -.r.. 80
| Elias RaffAson of a tailor. Grad
uate of Seacliff grammar and high
schools: sold papers to help support
family. while studying; president Of
| his class at both schools; worked his
way through, Syracuse university by
washing dishes, tending furnaces and
pressing clothes; was member of de-
bate club cheermaster of the uni
versity- and coach of the basket-bal
| team: member of Senior council,
Athletic governing board and Jus>
tinians( honorably law society);. now
member; Phi z. Kappa Phi and Zeta
Beta Tau; applied for place in Of
ficers' training school upon gradua-
Aon. rejected on, account Of size;
drafted, went to France as aiprivate
and returned home. as a private after
serving through many major engage
| ments; now associated in practice of
! law with Arthur Knox. \ =
-Four men were arrested In Toledo
O.. Wednesday charged with Conspir-