DEATH OF COLONEL ROOSEVELT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1919, Page 2

DEATH OF COLONEL ROOSEVELT.

TEEBUTE 3Y: PRESIDENT WILSON.

KING GEORGES MESSAGE

By Mograpk—Pwss Asa»eiati<m. Washington, Jan. 7. President Wilson has issued a proclamation relative to tho late Colonel Roosevelt, and has directed that flags oh public buildings be half-masted for 30 days and military and naval honors be shown at the . funeral. He said that when Colonel Roosevelt was President Its awoke- the nation "to tSe dafiger of private control of great industries and undertakings. King George and Queen Mary cabled their condolences to Mrs. Roosevelt. They said: "Wa have a personal regard for your distinguished husband. He will be missed by many friends in England to whom lie Lad endeared himself." —•Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc.

A TYPICAL AMERICAN; ' 'EDS STRENUOUS CAREER. Theodore Roosevelt, twice president of the United States, was descended from one of the oldest . aiickertbocker families of New Yorlc and from a noted Southern family Born in New York on October •27th, 1885, he was little more than' sixty years of age at the time of his death. On his father's side he came of a, sturdy race of Dutch burghers, tho first Roosevelt, or Bosenvelt, as the name was then spelt, emigrating from Holland to .New York (then New Amsterdam) in 1-549 or 1650 Educated at Harvard, he was tho recipient of numerous American and other University degrees. He read lav,, but had no need to practise liis profession. His father had retired from business and there was no need for his Bon ! to take up a business career.?. But Theodore Roosevelt had no taste for t, life of ease, lie preferred the strenuous life, and it is recorded of him that he was the first rich man's son to find a way to leadership in American history, and the only city-born boy to reach the Presideacy. In early life he had a long, straggle against ill-health, being subjeci to asthma. But, with determination wHeh so sferongly characterised him throughout, he set himself to overcome his physical weakness, succeeding so well that m later life was regarded as tho typical strong man, rough-rider, "man with the big stick," big game hunter, cud explorer . lie married in IS3O Alice Hathaway Lee, but she died in ISiH, and in 1886 he married as his second wife Edith Hermit Cara<T,. of New York Entering polities as & Republican, ho was a member of tho Now York Legislature from 1882 ta 1881, sad a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 18S1 tDVora 1884 to 1829 he resided ozi a ranch m North Dakota, living the free- lib of the 'Wild West/' and in this rough life of the range he finally &nd completely conquered the physical weakness that had dogged him from his youth tip He to called from the ranch in 18E6 to. be Rapublicai candidate for tho mayoralty of New i'ork; eaA though defeated he tras satisfied with his lively camoaign.

.JABOSS Gtf £EE.COi;33. *2 IE3 ho went "oa the stump" for President Harrison and in ISCfI was appointed oa tie National Civil iferviefc Coi&snssiea H» saiTed o2 that Commission tj, hard-LOUgit six years, and incidentally gained a Cios'j insight into the oi-gsaisiatiua £iid operation of the entire executive depaatrne.it or the Na. tional Government, a rare experience which afterwards stood him in good steud. From May, 1U25, to April, 18S7, he was president of the New York Police Commission, wrestling with one of tho most corrupt bodies in the world, stopping blaehmail and political influevico. Ha was then appointed Assistant Secretary to- the .Navy m this administration of President J-IcKmley, the political "bosses" having celeeted him to that modest oQcj as oat where- "lie could ii<i no hara " Eia went zealously to work, however, witii tilt rqsult that when tea war with Spain came ra the following year, the U.S. JTavy gave a particularly good account of itself Adxniiai Dewey winning a signal victory at I Manila. But Theodora Hoosevelt wan not content to watch th<s war from the safe vantage ground of a chair in tho Navy Office. Ee resigned his poet to organise with Surgeon, now Major-Gen-eral, Leonard Wuod, thu Ist U.S. Volunteer Cavalry .Regiment, popularly known aa the Hough Riders, and waa lieut.-colonel 0! that regiment, which distinguished itself in Cubi. Ee was 'promoted to colonel lor gallantry ai 110 Dattla oi Las Guasmas.

WICE PRESIDENT Governor of Xew York State from January Ist, ISSS9, to December 31st, 1900; lie was elected vice-president of the United States .for tlio term 1901-5; and, on the assassination of President McKinley, lie succeeded to the Presidency, September 14th, 1901 He was elected President for the term 1905-9 toy the largest popular majority evsr accorded tl candidate; and v?as the Progressive Party Ciindidato for president

iu 1912, being beatea, howdyer, by President WvodlOTr Wil3i/D. in 1916 Mr Roosevelt xms oned laoro selected as Progressiva candidate* for tke presidency, but lis rerased the nomination and supported tie Republican nominee, Judge 'Hughe3. In IMO lie was awarded the JJobel Peace Priza oi ! £SOOO for liis services in bringing to a peaceful conclusion the Rusrfo-Japaneaa war; and be was appointed special ambassador for tlie UniteCt States) at tie fraral of King Edward m 1910. HUNTER, EXPLORER AND WRITER. Ee was long a contributor to leading magazines and reviews, and known for years as an advocate of civil service and other reforms, national and municipal. From i'jM-14 he was wntribatiMg editor 'of the Outlook Huigazfer* fie did much shooting of big gaiaa m tho West, and on tie completioa o? hi 3 second term as president he went on & hunting trip to Africa, 1909-10; He visited South America in 1913, delivering addresses before universities and learned societies; and in 1914, at the head cf an exploring party m Brazil, he discovered and explored for a distance of about 600 miles a tributary of the Madeira„river, subsequently named ia Ins lienor by the ■Brazilian Government, "I?e,s Teodovo." He visited Madrid m June, 1914, and i lectured the same month before the sJEoy&l Geographical Society, Loe4oe. Ho

was a prolific writer of books on his hunting expeditions and his explorations, of historical works, and of political and other essays. His best known book, "The Strenuous Life," expounded in print the Rooseveltian philosophy of push and go, which he so strikingly exemplified throughout his very vigorous career.

BT2OXGLY PRO-ALL'?. When the world war broke out Mr Roosevelt very early declared himself on the aide of the Allies, and chafed exceedingly against the two years' neutrality of the United States. When America entered the war he volunteered to raise and lead a division of troops, ■but President Wilson declined tha offer, and Mr Roosevelt never got to the front. The four aons of the ex-president enlist; ed, however Quinton, a bold and brilliant aviator met his death over the Clerman lines, and was buried by thf enemy with honors at Chauncy. The eldest Major Theodore Roosevelt, serving with General Pershing's force, was wounded in July last. Kermit, the second son, iiolds a captaincy in the British army, in Mesopotamia; and Lieutenant Archie Roosevelt has been twice wounded on the Western Front.