The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-09
LT.-COL. ROOSEVELT
Sees NEW AMERICA
He Tells Kings County Re-
publicans of Spirit Of
Soldiers.
WIFE ALSO GIVES TALK
Both Thunderously Applauded
as They Tell of Lessons
Learned in War.

That new and hitherto unsuspected
spirit Of nationalism which will forever
ruard everything that is American from
harmful external and internal influence
has been developed by the war in which
moro than 100000 American men took
an active part. was the conviction ex-
pressed by Lieut.-Col. Theodore Roose-
welt last night ut meeting Of the Kings
County Republican Committee in Kismet
Temple. Brooklyn.
II was a great night for both Young
Teddy" as he was acclaimed by $500
men and women who had gathered to
hear his talk on the wars sideltyhts, and
his wife. for Mrs. Roosevelt unexpect-
sdly was called upon by Alfred 4. vass,
chairman of the Kings County Commit
tee, and she credibly acquitted herself
In what was her first address before a
largo civilian audience.
Colonel Roosevelt asserted that one OF
the nrst things service In France under
the American flag did-for all who
crossed from these shores was to make
them Americans and nothing else. no
matter OF what extraction they were.
Continuing. he said:
The next result was to make them
more keen minded and more interested
In everything pertaining to their coun-
try's welfare than they were before the
war. They are coming back. anxious to
play a part in the government OF their
country. They have been keenly aroused
TO new sense of notwithstanding t
ratipnalism-which never existed IN
them before as It does now.
Will Get Into Politics.
when they return they will want to
take hand In the government OF their
country. for they have been transformed
Into strong believers of government Of
The people, for the people and by the
Itople-not by any other person or per-
sens fer them. They want their Ho Use
Of Representatives; they want their
Congress and they want the Senate to
have n voice in the national Government
This Is where lies the duty Of the
older men in this country. The soldiers
will be interested in getting into public
work and you will have to assist them
to get in and make It easy for them to
get interested In the individual problems
Of each section.
These men are the ones who in the
future will either make or mar this
country Ten years from now more
than 100000 men who served In the
army are going to be practically the
United States. 1t is up to all Of you t.
correctly guide them and get their
minds working in the right direction.
That is the message I want to bring
home to you tonight"
Col. Roosevelt did not 60 into politics.
He gave sidelights. humorous and tragic,
on his life in France. dwelling on the
lighter incidents and paying warm trib-
utes to the men who fought and died
under his command. %
A remarkable tribute was paid to the
father OF the speaker of the evening by
the assemblage when Chairman Vass
opened the meeting, saying:
1.-Two years ago there stood on this
platform the best liked man in Amer
lea"
Fine Tribute to Colonel.
A solemn hush fell upon the great hall
and as one person all arose and stood in
silence for nearly minute. Continuing
Mr.. Vass told OF Col Roosevelt's desire
that he and his four sons should go to
the front and how the sons did go, not
awaiting to be called upon or seeking
soft berths but going 10 where the
fghtlng was the severest.
zone now sleeps in France" he con-
cluded. And another Is here to take
up his civic duties among U.S."
This was hailed with a tremendous
outburst of applause. the audience
springing to it's feet cheering
Mrs. Roosevslt's public platform debut
was an suspicious one. When called upon
she was plainly surprised. but arose
from seat beside her husband and
stepped to the centre OF the platform
In a clear voice, which grew stronger
n she appeared to gain more conf
dence in herself, Mrs. RoosHelt told Of
her experiences as a cantes0 worker IN
France and OF the many little incidents
coming under her personal observa ton
which convinced her that finer,
cleaner set OF men than those in the
American Expeditonary Force had
never been assembled in the history of
the world. She said:
zone Of The serious problems that
confronted the American military
authorities in France was that of leave
for the soldiers. This was granted,
when practicable. every four weeks. The
French soldier could go to his home /:
the British soldier to England, but the
American soldier was thrown on his
own resources in the matter OF amuse-
mnnt and recreation, but for obvious
reasons the men could not be permitted
70 scatter all over France or England.
Helped the DouRhboys.
TT was then up TO the Y. NJ. c. A.
TO do something and we established the
first leave area at the famous watering
place OF Aix-le- Balm. 1t was a big ex-
pertinent and ten workers were sent
from Paris to get things going. We
worked hard in fitting the place up and
were fully repaid for our efforts. Every
man landed with a crouch. but in a
few days we knew we had succeeded
when all frightened UP and we heard
one douEhboy call to another. Say.
Buddy. 1 am in Queen Victoria's ROOM
TO which his friend responded. You have
nothing on me. I am in the King of
Greece's ROOM And they were"
William NJ. Calder. United States SEN
Ator. compllmented Mrs. Roosevelt on
her impromptu address and at the close
of the meeting a standing vote of
thanks was given to the speakers.
Before the Kismet Temple meeting
Col. Roosevelt was the guest of Senator
Calder at a dinner given-.to about fifty
friends In his honor at the Montauk Club.
Members of the executive committee and
personal friends of Col. Roosevelt were
present.
SLIM HOPE FOR SIDNEY DREW