ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. 



619 



tion precedent, apparently, to their receiving any 

 attention from the Viceroy. They also called to 

 his notice that one poor Christian was as much 

 entitled to the protection of the law as a million 

 wealthy ones. Failing to obtain any redress from 

 him, they presented the matter to the Crown. 



ROOSEVELT, THEODORE, twenty - fifth 

 Vice-President of the United States, born in New 

 York city, Oct. 27, 1858. His father, also named 

 Theodore, a merchant and philanthropist, was of 

 Knickerbocker stock, and his mother was a de- 

 scendant of Archibald Bulloch, the first President 

 of Georgia in the Revolution. Their son was a 

 sickly boy, but rigid discipline and systematic 

 exercise brought him vigor- 

 ous strength. He was pre- 

 pared for college in private 

 schools, and was graduated 

 at Harvard in 1880. After 

 traveling in Europe he began 

 the study of law, but aban- 

 doned it for politics. In 1881 

 he was elected by the Repub- 

 licans to the Assembly from 

 the Twenty-first District of 

 New York city, and was 

 twice re-elected. The first 

 two Legislatures in which he 

 sat were Democratic. In his 

 second year he was leader of 

 the minority in the Cities 

 Committee, and he became 

 its chairman in the Repub- 

 lican Legislature of 1884, 

 fter being an unsuccessful 

 andidate for Speaker. He 

 vas active in promoting the 

 jassage of the first New York 

 ivil service laws, was chair- 

 nan of a committee that in- 

 stigated abuses in New 

 York city, and secured acts 

 bolishing the fee system in 

 ounty offices and depriving 

 :he aldermen of veto power 

 >ver the mayor's appoint- 

 nents. He favored a bill re- 

 ucing elevated railroad fares, 

 jut when Gov. Cleveland ve- 

 ;oed it he sustained the veto. 

 After retiring from the 

 ^egislature he bought a 

 anch in North Dakota, be- 

 ng an enthusiastic sports- 

 nan, and for many years he 

 las spent his vacations in 

 Hinting trips. 



In 1884 he was a delegate 

 it large to the Republican 

 National Convention, where 

 advocated the nomination 

 )f George F. Edmunds, but 



IB supported Mr. Blaine in the campaign. The 

 lepublicans nominated him for mayor of New 

 fork in 1886 against Henry George, the United 

 "jabor candidate, and Abram S. Hewitt, the 

 democratic candidate, who was elected. Presi- 

 lent Harrison appointed him a civil service com- 

 nissioner in 1889. He served efficiently until 

 vlay. 1895, when he resigned, and became presi- 

 lent of the New York city Board of Police Com- 

 nissioners in the administration of Mayor Strong. 

 le established a policy of strict enforcement of 

 iquor and Sunday laws, and this aroused much 

 pposition, but it stopped police protection of 

 ice and restored discipline to the force. 

 Mr. Roosevelt was appointed Assistant Secre- 



tary of the Navy in April, 1897, and took an im- 

 portant part in the preparations for the Spanish 

 War. At the outbreak of hostilities he resigned 

 his office and raised, largely among the Western 

 cowboys, one regiment of the volunteer cavalry, 

 who were known as Rough Riders. He became 

 lieutenant colonel, with Dr. Leonard Wood, of 

 the regular army, in command. From 1884 to 

 1888 he had been a member of the Eighth Regi- 

 ment, National Guard of New York. The Rough 

 Riders (unmounted) were with the army before 

 Santiago, and took part in the fight at Las 

 Guasimas, June 24, 1898, and in the capture of 

 San Juan Hill on July 1. Col. Wood was pro- 



I 



THEODOHE KOOSEVELT. 



moted brigadier general on July 8, and Lieut.-Col. 

 Roosevelt became colonel. He was mentioned in 

 the reports for gallant conduct in battle, and was 

 distinguished for care of his men in camp. 



After the surrender of Santiago the troops were 

 ordered to the mountains because of yellow fever. 

 Col. Roosevelt participated in the preparation of 

 a round robin by the officers, demanding that all 

 except the immune regiments be brought home at 

 once. This was sent to the Secretary of War, 

 and was also given to the press. Secretary Alger 

 then ordered the troops home, at the same time 

 forbade unauthorized publication of reports, and 

 retaliated on Col. Roosevelt by publishing a let- 

 ter from him asking that the Rough Riders be 



