第83章 Theodore Roosevelt's Anonymous Editorial Work (3)

On one occasion Bok sent him a manuscript which he was sure was, in its views, at variance with the colonel's beliefs.The colonel, he knew, felt strongly on the subject, and Bok wondered what would be his criticism.The report came back promptly.He reviewed the article carefully and ended: "Of course, this is all at variance with my own views.I believe thoroughly and completely that this writer is all wrong.And yet, from his side of the case, I am free to say that he makes out the best case I have read anywhere.I think a magazine should present both sides of all questions; and if you want to present this side, I should strongly recommend that you do so with this article."Sagamore Hill.April 26th 1916

This is a really noteworth story--a profoundly touching story--of the Americanizing of an immigrant girl, who between babyhood and young womanhood leaps over a space which in all outward and humanizing essentials is far more important than the distance painfully traversed by her forefathers during the preceding thousand years.When we tend to grow disheartened over some of the developments of our American civilization, it is well worth while seeing what this same civilization holds for starved and noble souls who have elsewhere been denied what here we hold to be, as a matter of course, rights free to all--altho we do not, as we should do, make these rights accessible to all who are willing with resolute earnestness to strive for them.

I most cordially commend this story.

Theodore Roosevelt One of Theodore Roosevelt's "Reports" as a reader of special manuscripts"Not long after, Bok decided to induce Colonel Roosevelt to embark upon an entirely new activity, and negotiations were begun (alas, too late!

for it was in the autumn of 1918), which, owing to their tentative character, were never made public.Bok told Colonel Roosevelt that he wanted to invest twenty-five thousand dollars a year in American boyhood--the boyhood that he felt twenty years hence would be the manhood of America, and that would actually solve the problems with which we were now grappling.

Although, all too apparently, he was not in his usual vigorous health, Colonel Roosevelt was alert in a moment.

"Fine!" he said, with his teeth gleaming."Couldn't invest better anywhere.How are you going to do it?""By asking you to assume the active headship of the National Boy Scouts of America, and paying you that amount each year as a fixed salary."The colonel looked steadily ahead for a moment, without a word, and then with the old Roosevelt smile wreathing his face and his teeth fairly gleaming, he turned to his "tempter," as he called him, and said:

"Do you know that was very well put? Yes, sir, very well put.""Yes?" answered Bok."Glad you think so.But how about your acceptance of the idea?""That's another matter; quite another matter.How about the organization itself? There are men in it that don't approve of me at all, you know,"he said.

Bok explained that the organization knew nothing of his offer; that it was entirely unofficial.It was purely a personal thought.He believed the Boy Scouts of America needed a leader; that the colonel was the one man in the United States fitted by every natural quality to be that leader; that the Scouts would rally around him, and that, at his call, instead of four hundred thousand Scouts, as there were then, the organization would grow into a million and more.Bok further explained that he believed his connection with the national organization was sufficient, if Colonel Roosevelt would favorably consider such a leadership, to warrant him in presenting it to the national officers;and he was inclined to believe they would welcome the opportunity.He could not assure the colonel of this! He had no authority for saying they would; but was Colonel Roosevelt receptive to the idea?

At first, the colonel could not see it.But he went over the ground as thoroughly as a half-hour talk permitted; and finally the opportunity for doing a piece of constructive work that might prove second to none that he had ever done, made its appeal.

"You mean for me to be the active head?" asked the colonel.

"Could you be anything else, colonel?" answered Bok.

"Quite so," said the colonel."That's about right.Do you know," he pondered, "I think Edie (Mrs.Roosevelt) might like me to do something like that.She would figure it would keep me out of mischief in 1920,"and the colonel's smile spread over his face.

"Bok," he at last concluded, "do you know, after all, I think you've said something! Let's think it over.Let's see how I get along with this trouble of mine.I am not sure, you know, how far I can go in the future.Not at all sure, you know--not at all.That last trip of mine to South America was a bit too much.Shouldn't have done it, you know.Iknow it now.Well, as I say, let's both think it over and through; Iwill, gladly and most carefully.There's much in what you say; it's a great chance; I'd love doing it.By Jove! it would be wonderful to rally a million boys for real Americanism, as you say.It looms up as I think it over.Suppose we let it simmer for a month or two."And so it was left--for "a month or two." It was to be forever--unfortunately.Edward Bok has always felt that the most worth-while idea that ever came to him had, for some reason he never could understand, come too late.He felt, as he will always feel, that the boys of America had lost a national leader that might have led them--where would have been the limit?