The Washington times., 1922-12-31
BRINGS HISTORY
TO PERIOD
OF 1909
James Ford Rhodes Latest
Volume Completes Chain
Covering American Events
From 1850 to Roosevelt's.
BY STUART GOODWIN.
THE MCKINLEY AND ROOSE-
We LIT ADMINISTRATION
(1QQ1- QAQl MACMILLAN

THE mCh1NLEI AMI NoooE-
WELT ADMINISTRATIONS
t1ss7-lsoO. Macmillan.
- AMES FORD RHODES In
his latest book has put an
% other rivet into the claim
made for him that he is the
foremost American historian to-
day. It fits in as one Of the
series beginning with the history
Of the United States from the
time OF the Missouri Compromise
Of 1850. The chain Is complete
now from 1850 to 1909.
There is not a single occurrence
Of importance. where Washing
ton and the Government was con-
cerned, between the nomination OF
William Mckinley and the end Of
Theodore Roosevelt's administra-
ton, in 1909, which Is not accu-
rately, impartially, comprehensive
". and readily set down. The pro-
portioning of the book is excellent.
Mr.. Rhodes paints a picture OF
the oncs dominant Mark Hanna
which should 60 far to eradicate
the picture Of him ignorance has
built up which is too generally
held today. He attempts no soft
ening OF the reactionary lines
along which this man was made.
but he shows him to have been
a man Of high principle who
made real sacrifices for what he
considered to be the good Of his
country.
Those days are not 30 long ago
when Bryan was raging, up and
down the land shouting for free
silver, which both Hanna and
Mckinley regarded as Of minor i'm
portance. Hanna frankly regard
ed Bryan as more of a Socialist
than a Democrat on this as well
as later occasions when the peer
less and indefatigable leader
snatched up the standard of his
party to run another losing race.
Domestic questions gradually
began to be pushed out OF the
way by the frightful conditions
under the Spanish rule In Cuba.
In which this country had to take
a hand. Mckinley. kindly and hu-
L. a IN
excellent light In the pre-war
DAYS, but Mr.. Rhodes unhesi-
tatingly puts his finger on the
spot in international developments
where Mckinley. by sticking to
his course instead Of yielding to
higher pressure. could have re-
lieved the awful condition of
Cuba and at the same time have
averted war.
The meteoric rise Of Dewey
through his annihilation OF the
Spanish fleet at Manila without
the loss of a man. the other fast
and furious developments of the
short and decisive war, are faith
fully and well chronicled. An en-
tire chapter Is devoted to tho
peace negotiations. the Philippine
Instruction. and the Boxer trou-
bles. From these international
concerns the history swings back
to the 1900 campaign, one Of the
main incidents of which was the
selection of a running mate for
Mckinley. And right there Hanna
met one Of his rare defeats, as
he frankly did not approve Of
Theodore Roosevelt, believing him
to be dangerous. Yet the two
grew to be fast personal friends,
each having great respect for the
other.
Not only statesmen, but the
great American contemporaries Of
the twelve years the book deals
With are well pictured, and their
activities, as they affected the
country, we'll recorded. Morgan.
Carnegie, Rockefeller, are given
careful heed. The martyrdom Of
Mckinley occurred soon after the
country, by the greatest Republi-
can victory since 1872, sets its
approval upon an era Of big bust.
ness and expansion in 1900, in
which these men played a great
part.
Through the strenuous and
never dull days Of the admins
trations Of Theodore Roosevelt
the history is of particular inter.
est. The inherited Philippine
troubles, the coal strike Of 1902.
Venezuela, Alaska. Panama, one