New-York tribune., 1919-10-26
Thousands Stand in Public
Library Plaza as Old
Friends Tell of Life and
Work of First Citizen
47th Star Sewed ON Flag
Governor Allen of Kansas
Says Former President
Died When Needed Most

Fifth Avenue, which never failed to
greet Theodore Roosevelt in his life
with cheers and atfectionate shouts of
Hello Teddy" yesterday paid t. his
memory the tribute of barred heads and
gistening tears.
cred at the Public Library to partic-
pate in the Roosevelt memorial exer-
cises connected with the Roosevelt flag,
which has been carried across the state
by schoolboys ard will be placed y his
grave at Sycamore Hill on his birth
day, tomorrow. The shouting, neck
craning, restless crowd was gone yes
terday and in its place were thousands
Of serious men and women, who lis
tened to the service with an intensity
which proved the depth of their devo-
tion to Roosevelt even more than their
cheers in his lifetime.
Almost any one can win cheers from
Fifth Avenue in his lifetime; few com
mand it's tears six months after death.
In All Parts of City
Not only Fifth Avenue, but all parts
Of the city-colleges, settlements and
synagogues-p paid similar tribute to his
memory yesterday. On the East Side
. movement was born with the purpose
of perpetuatng his memory through
Roosevelt forums of Anne rcanization
in every public school in the city. East
Side bankers and merchants are be-
hind the project, which has the double
purpose of carrying on what its pro-
moters recognize to be valuable work
and of expressing the veneration Of
foreign-born citizens for the former
Pres id"nt.
To-day will be Roosevelt Day in all
city churches. Former President Will
liam Howard Taft, honorary presden
Of the Roosevelt Memorial Association,
will be the chief speaker at great
meeting in New Haven. while in New
York City Senator Wesley L. Jones. of
Washington, will address a meeting of
negroes at the Palace Casino at 3
o'clock.
King Albert of Belgium is expected
to pay tribute to the great American
to- day, when he will visit his grave at
Oyster Bay.
Present Need of Roosevelt
Roosevelt AS a Great Citizen" was
the topic of Governor Henry F. Allen
of Kansas at the Public Library. His
crisis and need of Roosevelt's guidance
in the troubled times ahead brought
frequent applause from the crowd.
"It steadies us in an hour like this
to have his memory" he said "His
death came at the crowded hour when
we needed him most. God make us
worthy to-day of his courage and
Vision
Governor Allen described Roosevelt
as "the greatest pacifist who ever
"Soon after the outbreak Of the
war l asked Colonel Roosevelt what he
would have done had he been Presi-
dent when the Lusitania was sunk
Governor Allen said, 'and the Colone,
said promptly: 1T is my belief thatif9
had been President the Lusitana
would never have been sunk. When
the German Embassy gave notice of its
intention to sink passenger ships, then
was when | would have acted, I never
would have given them an opportunity
to carry out their threat"
Shouts of "Riyhtl" and "T' ats the
talk!" mingled with the applause tina
drowned out the speakers next para
graph.
He told them of Roosevelt's sense o
humor, of his delight in mock invi
tation issued by his opponents in 1912
which read Everybody come to tn
lake shore at p. m. Theodore Roose
velt viii walk on the water"
TN all my years of acquantanc
with him, | never heard him tell WI
gar story" Governor Allen concluded
"His home life was as sweet as old
fashioned poetry, and his relations t
women were those of a fine America
gen NAV ="
Colonel Henry D. Lindsley chairma