Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/161

 men from schools and col-le-ges, from the po-lice force of New York, from high posts in life, and all were strong, fit for the hard work they had to do, and were true "Rough Ri-ders." They were of great aid as part of the force of Gen. Shaf-ter which took the forts near San-ti-a-go. When they came home in mid-Au-gust they and their colon-el were the pride and joy of the land.

While Roose-velt was still in Cu-ba there rose a boom to make him Gov-ern-or of New York. When but a few weeks back from the war, Mr. De-pew brought up his name in a fine speech which told how true and brave a man he was, and what help it would be to have such a man at the head of the state of New York.

While still Gov-ern-or of New York, Roose-velt was put up to be Vice-Pres-i-dent when the votes were to be cast for McKin-ley as Pres-i-dent one more term. Each won the place by a large vote.

When they had been at their posts but two days more than six months, a scamp shot Pres-i-dent McKin-ley. Eight days went by, and then McKin-ley died, and all the land was in grief.

Roose-velt came at once from the North Woods, and, by the law, though sad at heart, was sworn in as chief in McKin-ley's place, on Sept. 14, 1901.

Since Pres-i-dent Roose-velt came to the chair, Cu-ba has come to her own, has been made free to plan her own ways.

When the end of the war with Spain came, Cu-ba was not at once in its own charge. Well nigh four years it was in the hands of the U-ni-ted States, and much good was done there by our men in the way of plans for the