Biographical Sketch 9 



military annals. In the first skirmish, after land- 

 ing on Cuban soil, Wood was promoted to the rank 

 of Brigadier-General, and Roosevelt was left in 

 command of the regiment. It owed its origin to 

 him, and he was associated with it from start to 

 finish. 



In September, 1898, the Republican State Con- 

 vention met to nominate a candidate for Governor 

 of New York. Roosevelt was then with his regi- 

 ment at Montauk Point, about to be mustered out of 

 service. He was nominated, and at once entered 

 upon a vigorous campaign. The party was then 

 suffering from criticism on account of its alleged 

 mismanagement of the canals, and in the opinion 

 of the best judges any other candidate would have 

 been defeated. Roosevelt was elected by about 

 20,000 majority. 



His election was doubtless due to his services 

 in the war with Spain, but these contributed little 

 or nothing to his qualifications for the office. These 

 were found in his experience in the State Legisla- 

 ture, in the Civil Service Commission, the Police 

 Department, and the Navy Department, an experi- 

 ence which had given him an intimate knowledge 

 of the practical working of municipal, State, and 

 national Governments ; and, above all, to his fearless 

 honesty and tireless energy in devotion to sound 

 principles of administration. During his two years of 

 office, as Governor, he has set a standard which the 

 people^f New York will not soon allow to be low- 

 ered. He has put through a first-class Civil Service 



