Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-01-15

III 1000 INDCSENtiL tic
civil service commission and began a
fight on Tammany hall. He served
two years as police commissioner of
New York city. stirring up the cor
ruptiOnists. and then President McKin-
ley made him assistant secretary of the
navy. When the Maine was blown
up he resigned and helped raise the
first volunteer regiment of cavalry for
the war with Spain. 1t was the ia
nous rough riders, Of which Leonard
Wood was made colonel.
Colonel Wood was later given a bril-
gade and Roosevelt promoted to COM
mand of the Rough Riders. Colonel
Roosevelt was commended for heroic
conduct at the battles of Las Guaymas
and San Juan hill.
Governor and President.
Coming back from the war, RoOse-
welt was elected governor Of New
York. But he would not be bossed by
the politicians, so instead Of giving
him a second term they persuaded him
to take the nomination for vice presi-
dent on the ticket with Mckinley.
When President Mckinley, shot by an
assassin, died on September u. 1901,
Roosevelt became president.
President Roosevelt served out Nc
Knley's unexpired term and was elect
ed president in 1904 by the largest ma
jOrity ever given a candidate for the
Office. In his seven and half years
In the White House he had ample OPP
portunity to show the stuff that was in
him. He lived deeply and broadly and
was at once the accomplished man of
the world, the student of national
adroit politician. the forceful writer OF
books and eloquent public speaker.
He had the happy knack Of invent
ing or reviving phrases that stayed In
the memory of his hearers and those
who heard him usually carried away
with them an apt summary of condi-
tions SO cleverly wOrded as 10 be not
easily forgotten.
Colonel Roosevelt's stand, from his
first cry for the square deal" to his
fight for second elective term in 1912.
was always on the basis of social JUS
tice and on the platform of elevating
Che condition of the working and mid
die classes. Along this line developed
his demand for the initiative. the ref
erenum. and the recall of judges and
and judicial decisions.
AS president, Roosevelt's activities
and scope OF endeavor were immense:
he became Il great international figure
through his many negotiations with
foreign powers and took in hand many
problems at home seldom touched by
president.
Booms Taft for Presidency.
Roosevelt declined second elective
term in 1908 and fostered the candl-
dacy OF his secretary OF war. William
ii. Taft, who was elected president.
When he left Office, March 4, 1909,
Roosevelt was the unquestioned leader
of his party. Taft was his close friend
Roosevelt went TO Africa to secure
specimens for museums and also II is
understood, TO be out OF the country
and escape possible accusations of at
tempting TO influence the conduct of
the new administration.
Colonel Roosevelt was a mighty hun
ter, His exploits in killing big game
In equatorial Africa are well known
through the book which he wrote ON
the subject
II was In the summer of 1910 that
Colonel Roosevelt travelled through the
country promulgating his doctrine of
of the new nationalsm." and the next
year he editorially attacked arbitration
treaties with Great Britain and France,
by President Taft.
Candidate OF Progressivee.
At the Republican convention In Chi
cage, beginning June Is. 1912. Taft
was nominated by 81 votes over ma
iurity. but few hours before the
nomination Roosevelt had withdrawn
his name as candidate, and that
night AT meeting in Orchestra hall,
Chicago, the Progressive party was
given It's first real impetus in demon
straton for Roosevelt and at which he
was named for president by the new
party. A formal convention was held
later and he ran as the regular candi-
date of the third party. drawing sup
port from Republicans and Democrats
alike, Woodrow Wilson. the Democrat.
was elected, however. and the colonel
had 10 be content with defeating MIR.
Taft for second place.
In 1914 Colonel Roosevelt led a
party of exploration in south Amer
lea, especially in the interior of Bra
I'll Then he made another tour OF
Europe In 1916 he was again con
sldered rs a candidate for the presi-
dental nomination by the Progress
Siycs, hut AT the last minute he de-
clined the honor, declaring his inten-
ton Of supporting Mr.. Hughes. the Re
publican nominee. Since that time
he had devoted his efforts largely TO
the task of teaching the need of mill
tary preparedness and to helping.
with his pen. in the war against the cen
trial powers. He sought chance to
serve in the army, but was rejected.
His three sons we're officers In active
service. and one, Quentin. was killed
in an airplane combat.