Roosevelt’s Idea [excerpt]

     Roosevelt appeared as a man of destiny. The conspiracy of the Republican bosses to have Roosevelt “kicked upstairs” was frustrated by the finger of Providence or the hand of Cholgosz. While serving McKinley’s unexpired term, Roosevelt made a display at carrying out McKinley’s policies. This was a decorous make-believe which misled no one. For there was a vast difference in the make-up of these two men. McKinley was a shrewd politician. Capitalism and republicanism were his God and his religion. He took his colors from Hanna. And Hanna, on one occasion, declared earnestly that God was a republican. Roosevelt spoke of McKinley with reverence in public and with contempt in private. On one occasion he referred to McKinley as a “stuffed club.”