Askov American., 1943-10-07

he had been in the liquor business
in New York City while Roosevelt
was president of the police board
during which time city ordinance
was enacted limiting the number of
liquor establishments per block which
squeezed Schrank out of business or
employment, and he swore vengeance.
The man had followed Roosevelt in
several cities in the 1912 campaign
before firing at him in Milwaukee.
During his 81 years confinement in
Waupun, he never had visitor and
received no mail.
Bullet Stayed With Him.
Following the shooting and his
speech at the auditorium Roosevelt
was rushed by special train to hos
pital in Chicago to which place his
daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth,
was also rushed by special train from
Ohio.
The operation revealed that the
bullet had lodged in rib and it was
not removed. He recovered, lived
actively for another seven years, and
died with "the bullet in my chest"
in 1919.
In visit with President Franklin
D. Roosevelt at Des Moines in 1896,
the writer told the story of the at
tempted assassination of his fifth
cousin. The president corrected and
said, mot my fifth cousin, but near
uncle is the way we knew him."
If any one individual made
Americans conservation con-
scious, 1t was Theodore RoOse-
welt. He set out as president to
break the strangle-hOld of the
few on the sources of wealth that
| he said should be open to the
honest endeavors of all. 1t was
his contention that the govern
ment should act for the people
who are the real owners Of the
public domain.
Of course, Theodore Roosevelt had
his faults and made mistakes, but he
was a great American and proud of
being an American for here is afford
ed the opportunity to fight for the
right. And how he fought!
Character and Influence.
Once his course was chosen he
hewed down the line and let the
chips fall where they may, win or
lose. He did not vote two ways on
the same legislation within few days
as do some modern politicians with
their ears to the ground, trembling
for fear they may not be reelected.
Nor did he use such practice as vot-
ing one way in committee and an
other way on the floor of the House
or Senate.
Roosevelt was not the sure-win-
ming type of politician always sparring
for position. He had vision and cou-
rage. He could change his mind but
it was not vote-seeking or boss-rule
that brought it about.
That public office is a public
trust, was we'll exemplified by
Col. Roosevelt. The inspiring
leadership Of this human dynamo
Is needed today as always.
Of the character and influence of
Theodore Roosevelt the Encyclopae-
dea Britannica states: "It can be said
of Washington that he founded the
American nation, and of Lincoln that
he preserved it; it can be said of
Roosevelt that he revitalized it.
Twice, at critical times, through his
vision, his ardor, his effective anger,
his faith in American institutions and
his peculiar understanding of all Sec
tions of the American people, he
cleansed the body of the nation of
treacherous poisons, and set its soul
to work on labors higher than the
acquisition of physical comforts. He
dreamed nobly for his country and
impelled millions of his countrymen
to dream nobly. He was the most
versatile man who has ever been
president of the United States"