The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-07
America MOur1S Loss of
Best Beloved Sportsman
COL Roosevelt Himself an Athlete, Boosted Friends in
All Branches of Sport-Turned Cabinet Room of
White House Into Gymnasium.
BY GEORGE b. UNDERWOOD.

The late Martin J. Sheridan. all round
athleNe Incompatible, often declared
Theodore Roosevelt was the greatest
man in the world. With a twinkle in his
eye Martin would remark:
II arrived at the conclusion the Sep
TENDER day in 1908 the President re-
ceived the American Olympians at Saga
more Hill. Two Incidents then took place
that led me to realize what a wonderful
man Theodore Roosevelt 10 One Of them
was Mel Sheppard's presentation to the
President OF the medal he had won In
the see meter event at the London Oiym-
PICS The other was the declaration OF
Pat Conway. president OF the Irish
American A. c., that. although he was a
Democrat, he was sorry he had but one
vote he coull cast for Roosevelt.
ANY man." declared Sheridan, that
can make Mel Sheppard give up a medal
and make Pat Conway forget all about
Tammany Hall Is the greatest man In
the werld."
A Lover of Clean sport.
Then Martin would go on to state his
true reasons for his great admiration OF
Roosevelt-the mans red blooded Amer
IT,,
sport and his open hatred for the milk
sop and the crooked and unfair In ath-
letics. Perhaps 1t can be said without
exaggeration that nine-tenths OF the
sporting world felt the same sentiments
toward the famous sportsman who yes
terday breasted tho tape In the race Of
life
No President, no man high In public
life. ever had as great love for manly
sports as Theodore Roosevelt, Few men
ever had 20 many acquaintance in sport,
amateur and professional, as the late
former President, He knew intimately
and openly expressed his friendship for
John l.. Sullivan. Bob Fitzsimmons,
Terry McGovern and Prof Mike Dono-
van among the boxers; Billy Muldoon,
Ernest Roeber and BIZ Brown among
the wrestlers.
The American athletes who. upon
Roosevelt's invitation. visited him at
Oyster Bay In 1905 were surprised at
his knowledge OF athletics and his IA
miliarity with their doings.
The veteran trainer Mike Murphy,
was the first In line when the introduce
lions were being made. mo need OF in
Producing Murphy" broke In Mr.. Rooss-
welt on the late James Il. Sullivan. who
was introducing the athletes. Mike and
I are old friends"
"Ah. Mr.. Sheppard. glad to meet you"
President Roosevelt exclaimed. That
was a bully race you ran in the SO
meter event.
We'll, II here isn't Martin Sheridan.
the greatest athlete of them all. Martin.
you and / must have a little talk as
soon as I meet the rest Of the boys and
we can get a chance to get together.
Proud of Johnny Hayes.
And little Johnny Hayes-the little
man with the big, stout heart! Johnny,
you showed the British something about
Yankee grit and gamsness, / reckon.
! Now tell me- weren't the middle stages
of the marathon harder on you than
| the last mile? Yes, l thought so. Once
We get past the middle part Of any diff
cult undertaking the worst is over. And
how much weight did you lose? Six
| teen pounds! My word, guess III
have TO go out and do marathon II
It will take weight off that way"
Through athletics Theodore Roosevelt
developed from puny. sickly child into
strong, robust man. Realizing the
benefits sccruing from Indulgence in
athletics he continued to exercise regu-
larly as long as he was able 60. just
before his last sickness Col. Roosevelt
spent a fortnight at a physical culture
farm al Stamford.
When he became President Col. Roose-
welt gave a mild shock to the advocates
of Jeffersonian simplicity and the wor-
shippers of historic association by con-
vertng tho Cabinet room Of tho White
House into what he piayfully declared
the administrations Department OF
Physical Culture"
The we'll known Cabinet table. book
cases, maps, globes, clocks. chairs rugs,
bronze and marble busts gave way TO
wrestling mats. shields, boxing gloves.
foils, single sticks, wire masks and
punching bags.
There Col. Roosevelt used 10 box with
the late Prof. Mike Donovan. wrestle