The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-01-10

Remarkable Career Colonel Theodore Roosevelt;
Recall Of Incident Which Prevented Him
From Visit to the Pope

where he graduated III 1880, and aft
erwards attended the law school of
Columbia university. He turned early
to politics and was elected to the
New York assembly in 1881 as an
opponent of the Tammany Hall ma
chine. There. for more effective serv-
ice, he allied himself with the re-
publican minority, although not a
member of that party, and for three
terms, 1882 SO "a, was it's leader. He
was delegate to the republican ma
tional convention of 1884 and in the
Same year removed to Medora, n. D..
where he conducted a ranch for two
years. AS the republican candidate
for mayor of New York in 1886, he
opposed Henry George, single taxer.
and Abram S. Hewitt, democrat, the
successful candidate. From 1889 to
1895 he was member of the United
States civil service commission, be.
ing appointed by President Harrison
and retained by President Cleveland.
Head of Police Board.
In the latter years he became pres
ident of the police board in New
York City and served for two years,
attaining wide prominence by the
energetic methods employed by hins
to eradicate evils existing in the
system. President Mckinley called
him to national service in 1897, as
assistant, secretary of the navy, and
as such his work was of single value
in hurrying the navy to readiness for
the war with Spain. In his desire for
field service in the war he resigned
from the department in April, 1898
and was active in organizing the First
United States Volunteer Cavalry,
popularity known as 'Roosevelt's
Rough Riders" He was first lieuten-
ant colonel and afterward colonel,
being promoted for gallantry in the
action at LasGuasimas, Cuba.
Returned to Private Life.
When his command was mustered
out of the military service in the
summer of 1898, Colonel Roosevelt
returned ITO private life just in time
to begin an active itinerant campaign
as the republican nominee for gov
ernor of New York, which resulted in
his election over Augustus VanWyck,
the democratic candidate, by plur-
atty of 1909, His first important act
as governor was to investigate the
state canal system, concerning which
there had been much talk of fraud in
the preceding administration. The agi-
tation of this question continued
throughout his term, the net result
being the appropriation by an unsym-
pathetic legislature of 100000 for a
new survey and an accurate estimate
Of the proposed improvements.
Other Conspicuous Acts.
Other conspicuous acts of the gov
ernor were in connection with the
enactment of the Ford franchise law,
providing for the taxation of corpor7
alton franchises, whereby he INQUIRE
the enmity of some of the largest
corporate interests; the extension OF
the civil service system to include
many offices hitherto under the con-
troll of political influence; and the
passage of the Davis law fixing the
Y,inimum annual salary of school
teachers at $500, and providing fol
proportionate advances for length OF
service. He had became a LEADING
personality in the party, although
hostile to some sections of it and
dangerous to others, and was known
to be ambitious. Against his express
sed desire for a second term as gov
ernor, in which to complete the re-
forms barely begun, he was nomin-
ated for vice president on the ticket
with President Mckinley, and was
elected in November of the same
year. On September IA, 1901, at the
death of Mckinley, Roosevelt became
his successor.
Believed in Mckinley.
President Roosevelt conducted hi:
administration as continuation OF
McKinley's of whose principles ne
was the avowed conservator. The
plans for trust and tariff Legislation
were adhered to, particularly In ref
erence to reciprocity treaties with
ether countries. The Philippine pol
lev was maintained and partially au
tonomous government was provided
for the islands. Also, the construc.
ton of an isthmian canal was au'
thorized,. and the connection OF the
Philippine Islands with he United
States was accomplished by means
of submarine cable. All this was {
heritage of the Mckinley administra
.tion. Legislation identified more
distinctively with Roosevelt himself
dealt with the revision of the coun
try's financial system, the increase o.
the navy as the best means of pre-
serving peaceful relations between
this and other powers, and the es
Enlistment of a permanent censu!
| bureau and of q department OF com
merce and labor. whose secretary ]!
| q member of the cabinet. OF thu
personal side of his administration
one instance is sufficiently character
istic-his action in the anthracite
coal strike in 1902, when he called
tltogether representatives of both par
tiles in the anthracite trouble and in
! duced them to agree to the appoint
| ment of an arbitration commission
This was an act without precedent IL
| the history of his office and was per
| formed in the public behalf, remed!
j, national evil" So striking was thu
presidents personality as to become
I the principal issue in the campaign
of 1904.
Defeated Judge Parker.
The republican convention in Chi
| cago nominated h. .acclaln"tion n"
Roosevelt to succeed himself; and il
! the election of November he defeated
! his democratic competitor, Judge Par
ker of New York, by, popular ma
jority of nearly 2,000,O90 votes. II
the electoral college he received 33t
,z.oa Tudua Do RI 110 HI,