The Washington times., 1919-01-06
Roosepelts Life a Series of Strenuous Battles

Theodore Roosevelt was born o..
wealthy family. In fact all the Roc Sc
velts have had means. The social
register of New York contains the
names of more members of the Roosc-
Welt than of any other family.
The fact that he was independent, |
in so far as earning a livelihood was
concerned, no doubt had a moral ef-
feet on Theodore when he per nitted
his natural fighting blood TO run
riot.
His ancestry was German. Dutch,
and a mixture of other bloods. accord
ing to his own autobiographical
sketches.
With a sickly body, the boy Roose-
welt set out to develop himself into
robust manhood. and succeeded In be-
coming one OF the most yirile men of
his age.
His career at Harvard University
was not ilIustrious, and he stood
twenty-second in his class on gradua-
tion in 1880. He married that same
year.
First Public Work.
RooseveIt's first public work was in
the Prison Reform Association,
where he carried on philanthropic
work. He also studied law.
From the time he took his seat in
the New York Legislature at Albany,
at the age of twenty-four years, until
his death. Roosevelt was a. game
fighter. Even his bitterest enemies
and he had many-admired him for
his courage. ConVentiOnalities never
stood in his way when he had de-
termined on a course he believed to be
right.
His genius for politics soon assert
ed itself. He entered at the bottom,
worked hard among the electorate of
the Twenty-first assembly district.
and in 1882 was chosen a member
Of the lower house of the State Legis-
lature.
He leaped into prominence in Al
bany when he refused to bottle up"
q bill, which the railroads did not like
and which the powers behind the
throne had ordered killed. Roosevelt
was a member of the railroad COM
mittee. He insisted on making a min
ority report OF the bill in question,
after nearly coming to blows with
other committeeman.
He fought for the investigation of
q Judge, found the assembly over.
whelmingly against him, kept or
lighting, and finally saw his cause
taken up by the newspapers and the
people, and the assembly forced to
yield.
Delegate Mt Large.
At the age of twenty-five years he
was delegate at large of the Empire
State to the Republican national con-
State delegation.
He entered the convention fight
with vim, and practically forced the
selection of a negro delegate for the
position OF temporary chairman.
He lost the fight he helped make
against the. nomination OF James c..
Blaine for President. Although he did
not leave the party on this account
BlsIne's defeat and the election of
Grover Cleveland the next autumn
caused Roosevelt to retire to his
South Dakota ranch. In October, 1884
his mother and wife died within two
days OF each other.
Chased Cattle Thieves.
Roosevelt had many picturesque ad-
ventures as a ranchman, chased cattle
thieves, fought bad men" and shot
big game. In 1886 he returned to New
York to run for mayor on an inde-
pendent ticket and was defeated.
He sailed for England, where he
married Edith Kermit Carow, whom
he had known from early boyhood.
On his return he took the stump for
BENJAMIN Harrison. and after the fight
had been won accepted a position in
the Civil Service Commission. His six
years there were marked by many i'm
portant reforms.
From May. 1895, to April. 1897, he
was president OF the New York city
police commission. His administration
was marked by an almost unprece-