188. Returns to Politics. He was surprised just before he left for the east to find that he was to be nominated for mayor of New York, at the early age of twenty-eight. He was defeated.
Fights spoilsmen of all parties
He served as Civil Service Commissioner for four years under President Harrison and for two years under Grover Cleveland, a Democrat. He was not head of the commissioners, but he worked so hard and fought the "spoilsman" so boldly that everybody called it Roosevelt's Commission. He had to fight Republicans and Democrats alike, for they were bent on turning all men out of office simply because the positions were needed for their party workers.
Roosevelt and the children of the tenement
In 1895 Roosevelt was appointed police commissioner for New York City. As head of the Police Board he was on the Health Board, too. He took special delight in looking after playgrounds for the children of the slums. He was aided by Jacob Riis, who wrote How the Other Half Lives. Roosevelt's idea was to take children from the streets and put them in playgrounds to prevent them from becoming "toughs." A Washington city editor said, "Roosevelt is the biggest man in New York City. I saw a steady stream of people go up and down the stairs which led to police headquarters. He has more visitors than the President." The truth is, as police commissioner for all New York he was commander-in-chief of an army.
Merit system for police
A policeman before could not get promoted without a "pull." But Roosevelt changed this. A Civil War veteran who had served for a long time as a policeman and had no "influence" rescued twenty-eight men and women from drowning. Congress had given him two medals, but New York City did nothing. Roosevelt came. The veteran, one night, plunged into the icy river and rescued a woman. Roosevelt showed his appreciation by promoting him. Every man on the force did his best now, for he knew promotion would come.
Builds up United States Navy
Roosevelt was called to be Assistant Secretary of the Navy, under President McKinley. He built up the navy and sent Dewey with the fleet to the Pacific. The war with Spain came (1898). Roosevelt resigned from his office, raised the Rough Riders, and took command with Colonel Wood.