The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-06

A Friends Tribute
, WILLIAM DUDLEY FouLkE

BY WILLIAM DUDLEY FoULKE
The death of Theodore Roosevelt is
the most serious affliction that could
fall upon America now that the war
is over.
He was the one man who was the
most necessary to us in this crisis OF
reconstruction, just as he was the one
man who was most necessary in urg-
ing both in season and out OF season
that the Americans should be prepar-
ed to take part in the great struggle
even while our chief executive was
urging US. ito be neutral in thought"
was encouraging us to be too proud
to fight" and was telling us that we
had no interests in exploring the OBJ
scure fountains from which the strug-
gle broke forth, and in other ways,
was keeping us out of war
Theodore Roosevelt was America
incarnate. If he had been in the
white house the struggle would have
been over years ago with only one
fourth the expenditure OF blood and
treasure that has been wasted.
Thank God, we pulled through at
last by the skin of our teeth. in spite
Of our tremendous resources, but II
we had done our duty at the begin
ming with the alacrity that Roosevelt
would have demanded, we would not
only have been at peace but we would
have been in the full tide Of prosper
ity.
Instead of having ahead long
months Of negotiation and tumult and
starvation
Almost Immediately after our en-
trance into the war Roosevelt was
ready to lead an army of 10000 on
the bat:lefields of Europe. He would
have had them ready in the fall OF
1917 if he had been permitted to go.
But he was kept here as most of us
believe because of the resentment OF
the president at his just criticisms OF
the presidents former delays and vas
cillating conduct,
The result was that more than a
year elapsed after war was declared
before we sent any substantial sup
port to the allies.
Roosevelt was the one great Ameri-
can since Lincoln's time, He had the
power of binding his followers to him
with hoops Of steel. Those of us who
were near him loved him with all our
hea rts.
Theodore Roosevelt was dearer to
me than any human being outside OF
my family His clear head, his tre-
mendous capacity for work, his mas
terly leadership and his utter loyalty
first to his country and then to his
friends were some of the qualities that
none of us can ever forget
| knew him for thirty-fOur years.
He first served his. people in the leg
islature of New York. Then as civil
service commissioner under Harrison
and Cleveland Then as police com
missioner in New York city where he
cleaned out the graft Then as assist
ant secretary OF the navy where he
taught our seamen how to shoot. He
commanded the rough riders in the
war with Spain at Guasimas and San
Juan Hill, as governor OF New York.
Then he became vice president and
succeeding to the presidency (much
against his will) he gave us one Of the
most illustrious administrations that
the country had ever had since the
d. - of the civil war.
After his retirement he was almost
as useful to his country as he was in
the executive chair. He prevented
the elements of reaction in the Repub-
lican party and ever since 1914. when
the war broke out in Europe. he was
the one great American voice which
demanded that America should do its
full duty not only to itself but to the
cause of Liberty throughout the world
He leaves none behind him who
can fill his place Others are afraid
to speak or if they do speak they have
not that broad knowledge which the
necessities of our world policy re-
quires nor have they the same will and
persistence in carrying out the things
they stand for.
America and the world has suffered
in his death the greatest loss possible
in this our moment Of victory.