New-York tribune., 1919-10-18
Thayer's Theodore Roosevelt
Charming Biography by Man Who
Did Not Follow His Leadership

is all that is set down here about this
man. I have read on and on in these
chapters these autumnal evenings with
the conviction that I was rereading a
volume that had come to hand within
the last twelvcmonth. and yet this was
the first time had seen it. No other
man perhaps has been written about so
often and son copiously; no other life,
of our day and generation. was laid SO
open to the world.
think of the figure of Theodore
Roosevelt much as OF point on the
landscape that recedes from me as |
pass onward on a swiftly moving train
A dominant point, perhaps, like a great
mountain gradually coming into better
perspective and into clearer relation
with its surroundings. and yet remain
ing long in view, SO long, no doubt as
have eyes TO see. Already this book
seeks TO establish the relation OF Theo-
dore Roosevelt to his times. The biog-
rapher has been more successful in
commenting on the earlier part of his
career, rather than on his later years.
And yet the balance is remarkable.
What love to reread about this life
is Theodore Roosevelt's record for de-
termlned action in foreign affairs. Be
cause. | suppose, there is still much OF
the boy about me | like his fish or cut
bait attitude. Surely he showed no
weakness when Germany wanted TO
blockade the coast OF Venezuela. His
handling OF the German ambassador
Hoileben. to whom he communicated
his determination that the Kaiser
must arbitrate, or Dewey would sail
for the Caribbean. is the sort Of trad-
ton that deserves TO live. His effort to
bring about a conference on Morocco
rather than war crowned with success
shows American diplomacy in a com
mendabe role. He frs, put the Amer
ican feet on the Pacific as we'll as on
the Atlantic. and it was no fault of his
that 1t did not remain there. The great
war, in the opinion OF his biographer,
has vindicated the Rooseveltian doc
trine Of preparedness, which was too
often mistaken for a bellicose and
bullying attitude.
Admirers Of the neutrality policy OF
President Wilson will find few crumbs
OF comfort in the chapters Mr.. Thayer
has devoted to Roosevelt's attitude
during the great WAY, for the biog-
rapher is thoroughly in sympathy with
the criticism that the former President
visited on the Administration. He finds
that "President Wilson refused to
make the very obvious use Of Roose
vet which he might have made" He
reminds the reader that Cavour gath
cred his personal enemy Garibaldi into
the fold when he began the great
struggle for Italian liberty But
President Wilson had shown TO desire
TO employ any American on any task
where he might get credit which the
President coveted for himself" He re-
peats Roosevelt's scathing criticism Of
Secretary Of War Bakers remarks on
The merit Of not being ready for way
and adds few Of his Own that will
probably not be treasured by the Ad
mnistTation.
"Those Of US who knew him. knew
him as the most astonishing human
had ever seen" writes Mr.. Thayer.
"His manifold talents. his pro.ean
interests, his tireless energy. his
thunderbolts which he did not let
loose, as we'll as those he did; his
masterful Will sheathed in self-con-
troll like sword in its scabbard,
would have rendered him super
human had he not possessed other
qualities which made him the best
Of playmates for mortals."
would not call this an "intimate'
biography, which is the publishers
subtitle, for Mr.. Thayer has not told
US much that is new. He has handled
his material we'll, surely, and this book
may we'll stand as an introduction TO
the career Of Theodore Roosevelt. 1t
merits translation into foreign Ian
guages and distribution abroad, for the
( sake not only Of the story that it tells
but Of the Americanism that it reflects
And it may we'll perform useful ser
vice in helping bridge the las. vcstigc
Of the chasm that once separated the
two groups Of the Republican party
HARRY HANSEN.