Editorials Written by Roosevelt as Crimson Head in 1903 Show Early Interest in Politics and Vocational Questions

The following is the first of a series of articles on the editorial views expressed by the "Crimson" when Franklin D. Roosevelt '04 was President of the paper. As President Mr. Roosevelt was responsible for all editorials appearing in the paper, and, as was the custom of the time, personally wrote a majority of the ods. His views, however, were of necessity modified by the opinion of the whole Board

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Wednesday, September 30, 1903. . .

In the second paper of the Fall of 1903 a general editorial was printed for the benefit of incoming Freshmen. Here the stress is on the "after life" and its responsibilities.

It reads: "many hundreds of young men are today assuming for the first time much of the responsibility which they will have to face in after life, and it is here that the first, and in many cases the final judgment will be made of the work of every individual. In the four years of undergraduate life not only can individual careers be made much as they are in the outside world, but the class as a whole will be judged favorably or the reverse, directly according to the success of its separate members. . . ."

"Every man should have a wholesome horror of that happy-go-lucky state of doing nothing but enough class-room work to keep off probation. It is not so much brilliance as effort that is appreciated here--determination to accomplish something. . . ."

Wednesday, October 7. . . .

In speaking of a new meal plan in Memorial Hall, an interesting observation is made: "in the installation of any new system the machinery is not apt to run smoothly at first; time and patience are necessary to secure complete satisfaction. . . ."

Thursday, October 8 . . . .

An interest in politics was continually expressed during the year. In speaking of the Political Club, an editorial reads: "No attempt is made to give a practical idea of the workings of a political system. . . of the machinery of primary, cancus, convention, election, and legislation . . . There must be many among us who, whether or not of a voting ago, would be more than glad to gain knowledge by actual experience of the Intricacies of federal, state, and municipal politics. . . ."

Wednesday, October 14. . . .

The "later life" is stressed again in an editorial dealing with Chamber Concerts open to members of the University. After asking for support, it says, "Only in later life will those who entirely neglect music. . . appreciate what opportunities they have lost."

Thus a general tendency was shown towards an interest in politics, vocational opportunities, and group activity by Mr. Roosevelt. Watch for the next article in this series!