Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-10

keen him with us. Theodore Roosevelt
alive is easily conceived Of Theodore
Roosevelt dead is altogether unthinlS-
able. Such man strengthens our be-
/ lief in immortality. He Is to us an as
surance that the physical change called
death is merely an incident in the end
less life Of the strong and the brave
Glowing Tribute of James VI. Beck
Declaring Roosevelt the Admirable
Crichton Of our generation" James NJ.
Beck paid a glowing tribute to the
great American lie referred to the
tragedy which had seated Roosevelt in
the White House and told of the force
fulness and vrility with which he exer-
cised the great powers of his office,
Mr.. Beck asserted
Roosevelt Takes Reins
who should guide the fiery coursers
of this mighty chariot Of civilization?
The reins were suddenly placed in the
hands of Theodore Roosevelt. Marvel
ously he directed for seven years the
course of that chariot. Few Presidents
ever accomplished more work of en-
during usefulness than Roosevelt in the
two terms of Office in which he guided
the mighty destnies Of the American
people. Conscious that the Federal GOV
eminent had grown so great that the
spoils system threatened the perpctuity
vigCr and authority to the movement
, for civil service reform, with which he
had been conspicuously Identified from
the beginning. Conscious that America
was wasting, like prodigal, its mighty
resources. he developed most effectively
| the movement for their conservation.
His policy was the historic policy Of
American, Peace, commerce and honest
friendship with an nations. but no no
American President ever was more swift
TO resent either an insult or threat
, than Theodore Roosevelt.
1T was not alone as great admins
traitor and foreign minister that Theo-
dorc Roosevelt in his double capacity OF
President and Prime Minister shone
conspiciously, but his greatest achieve
nent was in the more difficult role Of a
reformer.
1T was in this capacity that lie rem
dered his greatest service to the people
whom he led to high achievement. The
swift and enormous development Of our
material wealth. by which the capital re-
sources of our country hao grown ten
fo,d since Lincoln's time. and the de-
structiVe influence upon personal moral
responsibility by the development of
great corporate bodies, had resulted in a
lower morality which foreshadowed the
decay and ultimate destruction Of the
republic. Even If the submergence OF
personal morality in those useful and
even necessary entities that we call cor
porations' had not affected public mora
ity, and the standards of business life
! yet II had created money power which
seemed beyond public regulation or con-
! troll, and seemed 10 many to threaten the
life of the republic itself. Undoubtedly
there was much of hysteria in the agita-
ton against the money power. but who
can deny that when Roosevelt assailed
the abuses and excessive power of cor
porate wealth he had good grounds for
/ his action?
Roosevelt also ended the great power
I of the railroad companies to build up one
| mans business and destroy another's
! to give one community prosperity and
another ruin by discrimination in rail
road rates, and, in brief, he developed q
Federal power over trade and commerce
and wise and conservative regulation
Cf the problems of interstate trade anC
| transportation, which have been OF greal
and enduring value, even though the ful
advantage has not been reaped by reason
of the intolerable delays of that circum
! Commission.
! Disdalned Compromise
Roosevelt disdained diplomacy o.
compromise. His was a swift yes o.
no 10 those who sought his infence o.
favor. Neutrality on any question wa
abhc trent TO him. Upon all question
he had a belief and he rarely hesitate'
20 express It with precision and EN-
phasis.
"A grateful nation should, howevel
preserve this simple mansion overlook
ing oyster Bay as II has Monticel i
and Mount Vernon. Each is httl
come something OF the gracious pei
sonality who lived there, and to thes
hills future Americans will lift thel
eyes for continuing Inspiration