Evening star., 1932-11-09

he rented house in Albany and in
stalled his family there. This done, he
was ready for business. and the prin-
cipal business ct the time was that OF
warning upon the so-called bosses. :
the uncrowned czars of both the Demo-
cratic and Republican parties.
The battle was plentifully colorful. but
since most OF 1t was Of purely local
significance it did not gain much at
tcntion in the national press. Perhaps
Mr.. Roosevelt's principal achievement
ing to prevent the elevation OF William
H. Eheehan to the United States Sen
ate Sheehan was backed by Charles
F. Murphy OF Tammany Hall and had
other organization support, but the pro-
gressive element in the legislature, more
or less controlled by Mr.. Roosevelt, ef-
fectively blocked his election. That in
cident was the beginning of Tam
manys distrust of Mr.. Roosevelt The
voters of the 26th district expressed ap-
proval by re-electing their independent
young Senator.
Mr. Roo evelt's nrst appearance in
the nation; picture was in 1912. when
he threw his support to the pre-con-
vention campaign Of Woodrow Wilson,
then Governor of New JERSEY and, like
himself, an independent Democrat by
temperament and conviction. The con-
yention met in Baltimore, and Mr..
Roosevelt was one of the New York
delegation opposing Speaker Champ
Clark's claims for the presidential nom
nation When Mr.. Wilson was chosen
to make the race, Mr.. Roosevelt con-
and when the Democrats won the strug-
gle it became apparent that the Hyde
Park family soon would be moving to
Washington Just what would be Of
fered Mr.. Roosevelt was q matter OF
speculation. Possibly he was given his
choice of several posts. In any event,
he was appointed Assistant Secretary
of the Navy and became a constructive
influence in the Wilson administration.
In Congenial Situation
At Washington.
Working with Josephus Daniels and
with President Wilson, Mr. Roosevelt
found himself very congenially situated
He took office on March IT, 1913, and
remained until August Z, 1920 when he
resigned to campaign for the vice
presidency as running mate with James
M. Cox OF Ohio.
Mr.. Rooseyelt's affection for the sea
and his boyhood interest in things nau-
tical gave him particular equipment
From 1918 he had under his direction
the entire civilian personnel OF that
branch of the Government, as well as
the navy yards and docks, and the
purchasing of supplies of every kind.
He is supposed to have been the author
Of the reform whereby the Middies were
required to learn to swim, and he is
credited with breaking up the organ
lied system by which steel manufac-
turers and others overcharged the Ma
ton for commodities supplied to the
naval establishment. He developed the
productive capacity OF the navy yards
and saved the Government consider
able sums Of money. In anticipation OF
war, he collected data on more than 49,
600 industrial plants and, using this
information, placed tentative orders for
guns, ammunition and other equip
ment necessary to the national de-
fcnse.
Roosevelt found his opportunities for
service multiplied. 1t was he who sug-
gested or effectively Endorsed the plan
for the North Sea mine blockade to
combat the German U-boat menace. He
Is supposed to have suggested the first
Government war labor board Many
Of his activities we're of the type COM
monty considered dangerous For ex-
ample, when public confidence ip
American submarines was shaken by
the loss Of an undersea boat of the coast
OF California, he proved his own belief
in that type Of craft by making trip
in one of them. He crossed the Allan
tic to see the conflict in France and
Belgium at first hand, toured the front
with King Albert Of the Belgians, con-
ferred with King George in London
inspected the Allied navies, and in other
ways added to his knowledge of his
speciality by experience. He recon-
mended the building Of submarine
chasers and the taking over Of private
yachts along the Atlantic Coast for war
use. He organized new naval bases. He
stimulated production and adjusted la
Dor problems. He directed an army OF
$4,000 workmen with such justice and
sense OF fair play as to win their high
regard. He advised with President Will
son on naval and political matters, and
served on occasion as his chiefs per-
sonal representative. He was a liaison
officer between the administration and
foreign courts and chancellories, and be-
tween the naval personnel Of Great
Britain, France and the United States
At the close Of the war he was sent
abroad to aid in rehabilitation.
Men who worked under Mr.. Roose-
velt IN the Navy Department have
maintained their enthusiasm for him
through the years since 1920 Renal
F.. Camalier. who was his private sec
retary has said of him: He was the
finest chief ever worked for, most
conSiderate In every way 1t wa
characteristic Of him that when 8
holiday was due, he would notify the
office staf1 not to report, but holiday.
meant nothing to him personally, fol
ne was on the job regularly" Mr.
Camalier recalls that Mr.. Roosevelt,
went abroad on the destroyer U. S. S
Dyer. his sailing unadverused because
Of the wartime rule Of secrecy. HI
also remembers trip across the Eng.
lish Channel, when some fourteen hour!
were required for q passage which or.
dinarily would take but half that lonl
and when Prince Axel Of Denmark
was member Of the Roosevelt party
Mr.. Camalier accompanied Mr.. Roose.
welt in his campaign tour Of the coun.
try in 1920. He has q collection O.
some 5000 photographs as a souvenir
Of his Journeys with his chief.
N. p. Alias Is another associate o
war days who speaks kindly of MI
Roosevelt He was an officer of the In
ternational Association OF Machinist
and in that connection was in fire
quent conference with the Assistan
Secretary Of the Navy. He gives MI
Roosevelt credit for establishing tn
Navy Wage Board, intended to plac
wages for civilian navy yard workmel
on . parity with those in surrounding
localities He tells of him intervening
in behalf of committeeman who hat
been Disseminated against for thei
concern for organized labor.
It Is worth noting that it Is to MI
Roosevelt that the country owes In par
the restoration Of the U. S. S. Consti
tuition. called in popular parlance "Ol
Ironsides" He wrote paper on "Ou
First Frigates" In support Of tn
project.
ROosevelts Popular
| uu