The Civil Service Commission, when Mr. Roosevelt became a member,
had been established by Congress, but it was hated and opposed by
Congress and the Commission was still fought, secretly or openly.
Congressmen tried to ridicule it, to hamper it by denials of
money, and to overrule it in every possible way. A powerful
Republican Congressman and a powerful Democratic Senator tried to
browbeat Roosevelt, and were both caught by him in particularly
mean lies. Naturally they did not enjoy the experience.
At the end of his term, President Harrison was defeated by Mr.
Cleveland, who came back again to the Presidency. He re-appointed
Mr. Roosevelt, who thus spent six years in the Commission. When he
retired he had made a good many enemies among the crooked
politicians, and some friends and admirers among well-informed men
who watch the progress of good government. He was still unknown to
the great body of citizens throughout the country, although he had
been fighting their fight for six years.
He went from Washington to accept another thankless and still more
difficult position in New York City. It was one which had been
fatal to political ambitions, and was almost certain to end the
career of any man who accepted it. This was the Presidency of the
Board of Police Commissioners.
CHAPTER VII
POLICE COMMISSIONER
Experienced politicians always warn young men who wish to rise in
politics, who wish to hold high office in the state or national
government, to keep out of city politics.
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