Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-07
From Today's Public Ledger


Sunbury, Pa, Jan. 6.-A great man
has gone from among us. A full decade
Of usefulness was before him and he
survived the Psalmst'ss period. He
leaves us in the full vigor of his intellect
and with no visible failure of that bodily
strength that was in full harmony with
his mind.
Theodore Roosevelt was weakly in
early youth. His growth to a manhood
so different showed how his mind and
Will could change the body. Entering
into the full fervor of college life at
/ Harvard, he found opportunity to develop
his sympathetic interest in all sports
which he retained through life. 1t was
| characteristic Of him that he took no in
terest in golf, preferring the intenser
contest of boxing and tennis and the
greater consumption of energy in tree
! chopping
Early in Politics
After graduation at Harvard in the
class of 1880 and course Of law in
columbia. he at once entered politics.
fie served in the legislative chambers
OF New York as a youth. He was del
egate-at-large to the national conven-
ton of 1884 and prominent figure in
II, though only four years out of college.
Then followed his service as National
civil Service Commissioner. Police Com
missioner of New York and Assistant
Secretary of the Navy.
When the Spanish War came on, over
every obstacle he rushed to lieutenant
colonel's command of the Rough Riders
and took conspicuous part of that war
lie became Governor of New York, Vice
President of the United States and on
the death of President Mckinley, sue
ceeded him and was elected to a sec
ond term.
Constantly in Public Service
From the close of his college days
until the declination to run again, in
1908, for the presidency, he was con-
stantly in public service and most
active in it. He impressed himself on
every task and gave it tho color OF his
personality. He was original, he was
he was courageous, he was
practical He could challenge public
interest and summon public sympathy
in his aid
In spite of all this labor In the public
vineyard he found time to read and
write much. History he studied with
a loye of heroes who struggled and
did things Whatever he wrote was
His opinions were his own.
His descriptions of historical characters
were graphic and often pungent. When
he did not like a man or a people or
facticn, he said so. He hit hard. His
political enemies found much with which ,
they thought to prejudice the descend !
ants of those he attacked. But, as he /
said himself he had written so much |
that his political opponents were 50 en- /
barrassed by their riches that they never |
made successful use of them.
The greatest work of Theodore Roose- |
welt was in his successful fight against |
he corporate control of politics. That |
was a real danger when he took office
When he left the Presidency he had
set the current which carried corpora /
tions out of political power and rid our
body polite Of o growing disease. He
was the victorious crusader in this fight |
Hold on People Shown in Campaign
In respect of Colonel Roosevelt's |
organization and leadership of the Pro- |
gressive party, there has been much |
difference and discussion which it |
would not be appropriate now, if ever
to revive, But certainly it may prop |
erly he referred to, to show the |
strength of his hold on the American
people, that he could on whatever /
ground, break up the great Repub-
lican party and win over to the party
Of his sole creation n larger vote than
that given the regular Republican |
nominee. Circumstances doubtless aided |
him, but without his wonderful person.
atty aud leadership the result could
not have been achieved.
Theodore Roosevelt, with his brilliant /
quick and intense nature. made mistakes |
Who does not? 1t would be character |
stic of him in the calm of long subsc- .
lucnt period freely to admit them. Those |
whose training makes them consider the ,
proper administration Of justice as the ,
highest function Of the State regarded !
his attack upon the courts and his pro-
posed change in the tinality of their |
judgments as one of those mistakes |
he changed his views or not,
he ceased to press the subject.
Leader OF Men
Great leaders of men must have con-
h1ence in themselves and their pow
ers. such confidence leads to egoism, If .
it is not itself that quality. Theo-
dore Roosevelt was a leader of men and |
had that quality. But it did not hide /
his good fellowship ana feu-blOoded- /
ness, his teamwork loyalty to those .
who were helping the cause he was
fighting.
lie was a most delightful chief to
serve under He was not great admin
istrator In the sense of knowing how
TO organize and conduct any great de-
partment; but he had the executive
talent to select the men who could do
this, and to inspire his appointees to
devotion to his official purposes that
made for his great success.
lie hunted for the biggest men he
could find 10 do the tasks to be aIloteo