New-York tribune., 1919-01-13
Quoting Roosevelt
TO the Editor of The Tribune.


CIR: In this mornings papers Oscar
~ Straus quotes Colonel Roosevelt as be-
ing in favor of a league of nations 1t is a
dangerous thing to say what man now
dead had said before his death, even to one
who, as we all know, was his friend In
Mr. Roosevelt's case | hope there won't be
much of it.
Theodore Roosevelts interests were uni
versal and his curiosity insatiablc In
these respects the only man | ever met who
could be compared with him Vas Mr. Pulit-
zer after he was blinded. Roosevelt would
submit his thought to the scrutiny Of any
human creature from whom he believed he
could get information, or even an equally
sincere thought. No gate ever closed the
way to Sycamore Hill; no glass dimmed
the look of Roosevelt's questioning eyes;
and to every human creature prince or
pauper, who gave him something to think
about he gave attention.
From the beginning of his career to the
end of it he said his thought instantly to
anybody and everybody, and whether he
said 1t in the trophy room at Sycamore Hill
or in message to Congress it was the
same thought, or, if he modified it (Which
did not happen often) he was instant to say
so. All his life long the public knew lust
where he stood.
1t will be too bad if now his friends un-
dertake to quote any other utterances of
Theodore Roosevelt than such as are shown
in the print Of his manuscripts. Laving
Gown this rule for others to be guided by,
[ shall not offend it myself Except for
Mr. Wilson it must be clear to all of US
that the leading advocate in this country
of league of nations is Mr.. Taft If out
side of what Colonel Roosevelt put into
print about the league Of nations idea
there is any living man who knows his
view, that man is Mr. Taft have not
seen In the writings with which he is so
ably instructing his countrymen ANYTHING
that suggests that Theodore Roosevelt was
unreservedly in favor of what we must. sup
pose to be President Wilson'S idea of a
league Of nations
In a speech that Roosevelt delivered at
Saratoga before the Republican State Con-
vention last year, which you printed in
full, and in another speech that he deliv-
cred at Carnegie Hall just before he went
to the hospital, and which you printed in
full, heard him say that he believed in
anything, call it a league of nations. or
what not, that tended to preserve the peace
of the world but that he would never con-
sent to an understanding between the
United States and other nations that do
prlved us of the right or denied to us the
duty of universal military training
heard him say that, and l am not quoting
what heard him say at Sycamore Hill or
at Montauk Point or in the White House, or
on any other occasion, and there never WAS
one, when / thought that | was more init
mate with him than any other of the
thousands that were looking into his face.
What thought he meant when he said
that he would be glad to have a league of
nations or any other human device that
could tend to preserve the peace of the
world, but that never could he agree to a
stipulation that prevented this country
from training it's youth for the countries
protcction-wh I thought he meant was
that there were questions arising in tho
lives of men and nations that could not be
arbitrated. That was what I thought he
meant. Every line in his face, every tone
or his voice, every fash of his ewes told
ne SO. know he meant it; and | agree
with him. If | were a Senator of the
United States l should vote against COM
mitting the United States to any agreement
with any other nation that forbade us to
be, in the end, the arbter of our own des-
TIMES, and should not leave it so that. in
placing my country, it would be necessary
for me to say to the minister of anv othor
nation, This is only a scrap of paper"
There may be others, and hereafter. and
IN spite of the treaty, who will saw it. as
Germany did, but the United States oucb+
not to be in their class. Neither shou]d If
be subject in its final responsibilities 70
the determination of conflicting intares+s
1t should steer it's course clear of them
Nobody has asked me to vote as q maro-
Der of the Senate. May vote in the oman
pages of The Tribune? | vote no. and
testify that on public occasions the leade.
of American thought and action whom
most respect said in my hearing that yb;,e
he welcomed any and every instrument that
tended to preserve the worlds noaca bo
would never consent to an agreement that
forbade our nation to utilize for its nro-
lection any single ounce of energy that -
possesses. LEMuEL ELY ouIGC.
New York, Jan. II, 1919.