The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1920-09-02

Talk about men being good poll
ticians and knowing the great Ameri-
can game, why the women can beat
them a mile. The leaders at Lake
wood were everywhere, shaking hands
introducing people and calling them
by their first names. The stiffness
and formality of the clubwoman eti-
quette has gone into the discard We
shall expect to hear familiar nick
names tackled to women candidates
as we do Teddy" and "Bill' and
Jim" our popular men candidates.
Promptly at three o'clock Chairman
Holley called the big meeting to or
der. Mr.. Holley is House chairman
of the Legislative Committee on the
financial budget, and therefore will
qualified to talk on the strictly state
issues He has a clear, strong and
very pleasing voice that carried to
the outermost fringe of the crowd. The
enthusiasm broke loose when he had
finished his Introductory remarks and
began to introduce the first speaker.
Whoever said Somerset audiences are
cold and unappreciative should have
heard the applause and cheering that
greeted Colonel Theodore Roosevelt.
His great father. perhaps the greatest
American of this generation, had no
more steadfast adherents or loyal fol
lowers than those of Somerset Young
Teddy has inherited many of those
familiar traits and characteristics of
the Militant Roosevelt. Physically.
he resembles the elder Teddy. except
of course he lacks the flesh that came
with age; his face and eyes and large
expressive mouth, however bring back
the hOmely, rugged picture so dear to
the hearts of Americans everywhere
-Four gallant sons the elder Roose-
welt sent to the Great War: Archie
Kermit, Quentin and Theodore. Jr
ieut. QucntOn Roosevelt was
KILLED n action. flying over the Boche
line and the other three boys We're
always in the thickcst of the fighting
and all were severely wounded Young
Teddy went over as a battalion Com
mander with the heroic First Division
early in 1917. He commanded one
of Tho very first attacking raids
leainst The German lines, and was
decorated by the French with the
CroiX de Guerre for extreme bravery
in action before the American Army
became an organized force in France
He had the unusual distinction of
commanding a regular army regiment
IS a reserve Corps officer It is
doubtful if his gallant record as a
lighting man in France is less meri
torious than that of his father with
the Rough Riders in Cuba. The dig
nifled and altogether splendid posi-
ton that he has taken on his return
to civilian life indicates that his fu-
ture usefulness to the nation will be
great He was elected by an over
whelming majority to the New York
legislature where his natural abili-
ties as a leader and his reputation as
a fighter worthp to bear the Roose
welt name, have made him a command
ing figure 1t is perhaps surprising
that this early in his public career
he should have developed into the pow
erful, magnetic speaker that he
showed himself to be at Lakewood.
He carried his audience in the same
way that his father used to do. Short.
simple sentences. pregnant with truth,
sincerity and high aims; strong,
striking forceful choice of words; or
iginal epigrams, full of punch. and a
snappy almost fierce manner of speak
ing holds the strictest attention of
his heareres. He talked as the mod
est Christian soldier home from the
wars, with the ripe experience with
the men of Europe during not only the