Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-06

a prolific writer, lectured and made
public speeches extensively. not only
In his own country but in England,
Srain, South America and other parts
OF the world. The facility with
which he made political enemies and
followers mate him a marked man
for both the bitter and friendly at
tention of cartoonists and para
graphers. Quaint and picturesque
phrases were coined literally by him
and by others concerning him.
Speak softly and use the big stick"
weasel words" "pussySsot." mol
lvcoddle" and my hat is in the
ring" were some of the Roosevelt
expressions which attained wide pub
licity.
The strenuous physical activities
in which Roosevelt engaged 1T the
White House included boxing. Il
was not until about eight years
after he left the White House that
it was disclosed that during one of
these. bouts. which he welcomed as
a means of keeping him in fighting
trim, a blow landed by a sparring
opponent injured one of the Coloners
eyes. Later blindness of this eye
developed.
In the later years of his life two
court suits. in which he figured in
one as plaintiff and in the other as
defendant. winning them both. kept
Roosevelt before the public eye.
During the Presidential campaign of
1912 q Michigan editor charged him
with intoxication. Roosevelt insti-
tuted suit for libel and marshalled
notable host of witnesses to tes-
tify regarding his private life and
habits. Their testimony was so
overwhelming that the charge was
withdrawn in open court and the
jury brought in a nominal verdict of
six cents in favor of the eX-Presi-
dent. William Barnes, Jr., of AL
bany, II. Y, accused Roosevelt in
1914 of uttering libel in a statement
asserting that the "rottenness" of
the New York stategovernment was
due directly to the dominance of
Tammany Hall in politics, aided by
Mr.. Barnes and his followers. At
Syracuse, n. Y, in 1915 the jury's
verdict acquitted Roosevelt.
When the European war began.
Roosevelt vigorously advocated q
policy of national preparedness, urg-
ing universal military training for
the nations youth. In speeches
throughout the country and in his
magazine and newspaper writings he
criticised, in this respect, the policies
of Woodrow Wilson during Mr.. Will
sons first term as President.
Mr.. Roosevelt, it has been said,
was keenly disappointed when he
Gid not receive the Republican nom
ination for President in 1916. At
the same time, however, he refused
to follow the advice of some of his
staunchest followers that he again
head the Progressive party ticket.
Instead he prevailed upon the Pro-
gressive party to make Charles
Evans Hughes, the Republican can
ydidate, its own choice. He cam
paigned for Mr.. Hughes. With the
reelection of Mr.. Wilson, and
Americas entry into the world war
soon after, Roosevelt Immediately
supported the President and bitterly
assailed the pro-Germans, pacifists
and other type of men who attempted
to delay speeding up the war.
With the United States a belliger-
ent, Roosevelt endeavored to obtain
the consent of the War Department
to establish an Army division which
he was anxious to take to France.
many of the Rough Riders who were
his associates in the campaign in
Cuba. and younger men of the same
strenuous habits. The necessary
permission for the formation of such
force was not forthcoming even
though Roosevelt expressed willing
ness to accompany it as subordi-
nate officer.
One of Roosevelt's participations
In public affairs took him to Wash
ington in January. 1918, when he
conferred with United States Sena-
tor George E. Chamberlain of Oregon
and other members of Congress who
were critical of the admins
tration's methods of prosecuting the
war. Roosevelt on this occasion an
nounced his support of the proposal
that war cabinet be organized to
take over the conduct of the war.