Askov American., 1943-10-07
InspiringL Leadership

InspiringL Leadership
The recent death at the state hos
pital for the criminally insane at
Waupun, Wis.,, of John F. Schrank,
O., who shot and wounded Col. Theo-
d0re Roosevelt in the presidential
campaign of 1912, brings to mind the
excitement over the attempted as
xassination, the stirring events of the
time, and the life and character of
one of Americas great men - man
who could mingle with kings, the men
On the streets, and those on western
ranches.
The Rough Rider, as Theodore
Roosevelt was known, was emil
nent as naturalist, soldier, ora
Tor and historian, besides being
= politician, statesman and pop
ular leader.
AS member of the New York
legislature, U. S. civil service COM
missioner, president of the police
board of New York City, as assistant
secretary of the navy in President
AcKinley's first term, colonel of the
volunteer regiment of Rough Riders
In the Spanish-American war, gov
ernor of New York state, and as
president of the country, Teddy, as
he was affectionately known, was a
fighter for fundamental American
principles, for the preservation of
American institutions, and fought
with all his might against autocracy
and monopoly.
In the Center of Fights.
As president he was the first to
dissolve holding company, device
designed to evade restrictions of the
Sherman antitrust law. His objection
to corporations was not to size but
wrong-doing. With vigor and de-
termination he stepped personally
into a coal strike in 1902 in the in
terest. of the public and to emphasize
in behalf of labor that there must
be human as well as property rights.
In the New York legislature in his
more youthful days he fought unsuc-
cessfully for impeachment of judge
who was too lenient with notorious
financiers. He characterized the sim
lister forces back of corrupt legis-
lature as the wealthy criminal class"
which expression was remembered
by the public.
AS governor of the state, he had
many battles with Republican Boss
Platt, yielding on non-essentials but
insisting on going his own way on
fundamental principles and issues Of
importance, according to his biog-
raphers, and he made great efforts
to secure the subservience to govern
ment and law of big business COM
binationS.
In 1884, after the death of his first
wife, Col. Roosevelt took to the west
ern plains and spent two to three
years in the Bad Lands of the Da-
kotas, where he lived the life of a
rancher and did much writing. He
was popular with the people Of the
plains and was known as a cowboy.
Active as Writer.
Included in his busy life was big
game hunting in Africa after he left
the presidency in 1909, and explora-
tions in Brazil, in recognition of
which stream charted was named
d the Rio Roosevelt. His published
works including books, pamphlets,
addresses, and periodical articles
numbered between two and three
thousand, and he wrote approximate
ly 10000 letters during his life
time - 1853 to 1919.
"a man who could do so much
could not do everything perfect
Iy, though few have ever done
30 many things so we'll" wrote
his friend, Albert Bushnell Hart.
The reactionary forces in the Re-
publican party in 1900 did not want
Teddy Roosevelt as governor of New
York a second term so the scheme
was to shelve him by running him
for vice president. Teddy desired a
second term as governor but his pop
ularity, especially with the western
efs, put him over at the Republican
national convention as nominee for
vice president. He accepted and was
elected with VIM. Mckinley who be-
came president for second term
President Mckinley was assassinated
IN 1901 and Roosevelt moved up. Very
popular, he was easily elected presi-
dent in 1904 for the full four-year
term. He refused to be candidate
In 1908 and supported VIM. Howard
Taft for the presidency.
President Taft, who had been Sec
retary of war in the Roosevelt cab
met, became too conservative for
Teddy with the result that the Col
ssanel,: to use his own words, "threw