The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-10-22
ROOSEVELT VS.
TA|LOR'S son
Lieutenant-colonel Pitted Against
Buck Private For
Election.

not infrequently it turns out tina
wars aftermath peace, is in truth
the greatest leveller, and politica
events in the Second Assembly Dis
trics of New York have brought tt
pass Q situation which more or less
proves that fact.
In years gone by the late ex-Presi-
dent THEODORE Roosevelt ,"Teddy,'
the 100 per cent. American, con-
trolled the districts political des-
TIMES. To the people of Oyster Bay,
of which the Second District is the
seat, Teddy was almost god.
His word was their law. Then the
grim reaper swept him away.
But today there is another "Ted-
dy" Roosevelt growing up among the
folks of rural Oyster Bay, Lieuten-
ant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, son
of the great leader, and he has am
billions to follow in the well-marked
footprints of his honored father.
Starting from the bottom of the lad
der, he is a candidate for the State
Assembly on the Republican ticket.
And opposing him, who was a lieut.
enant colonel was second in COM
mand of an entire regiment, is
former buck privatey Elias Raft, the
son of a tailor.
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 on the same plane.
Though one is rich and the other is
struggling lawyer, Democratic
America has accorded both equal
rights in the race for public office.
Elias Raft came into the race al
most unknown, unheralded. When
the Republicans nominated Lieut..
Col. Roosevelt the people spoke of
his election as foregone conclusion.
In fact, some of the leading Demo-
crafts of Oyster Bay thought it
would be wise to endorse him and
assure his election. But the leaders
Of North Hampstead, township the
size of Oyster Bay, objected and
Raft was nominated by the Demo-
Gratis.
The nomination aroused little en-
thusiasm even in Rats own party;
it was done as a matter of form.
Then Raft mounted the platform for
MS first speech. "My hat is in the |
ring, and it is not my fathers hat,
.ither," he said. The Democrats
they had picked live wire
t looked like Mr.. Roosevelt's walk
'ver would wind up in an exciting
lorse race, and according to all re-
,orts from the district the buck pri-
'ate's chances are improving daily.
The following events in the lives
If the two men may show the con-
5rast between them:
Theodore Roosevelt-son of an
ex-President of the United States,
Graduate of Boys Academy, Albany;
Irotan School and Harvard Univer-
'ity; played on the Harvard Varsity
ootball team, married Miss Eleanor
Butler Alexander, daughter of veal
ny and prominent parents; repre-
'ented Hartford Carpet Co. in San
later became a bond sales
nan; commissioned lieutenant in first
)ficers' Training Camp at Platts-
burg and captain in the second camp;
to major at outbreak of
var; took battalion of Twenty-sixth
Infantry to France, was wounded,
lwarded the Croix de Guerre, made
ieutenant-colonel; returning home
lecided to enter polictics.
Elias Raff-son of tailor. Grad
late 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
dishes, tending furnaces and i
pressing clothes; was member of de-
bate club, cheermaster of the Univer-
sity and coach of the basketball
team; member of the Senior Coun-
ell, Athletic Governing Board and
Justinians Honorary law society !;
now member Phi Kappa and Zeta
Beta; applied for place in officers
training school upon graduation, re-
jected on account of size; drafted,
went to France as private and re-
turned home as private after serv- II
ing through many major engage
ments; now associated in practice of
law with Arthur Knox.