He told me afterward that the man had come to him with what he said
was certain knowledge that his enemy could that night be found in
a known evil house up-town, which it was his alleged habit to visit.
His proposition was to raid it then and so "get square." To the
policeman it must have seemed like throwing a good chance away.
But it was not Roosevelt's way; he struck no blow below the belt.
In the Governor's chair afterward he gave the politicians whom he
fought, and who fought him, the same terms. They tried their best
to upset him, for they had nothing to expect from him. But they
knew and owned that he fought fair. Their backs were secure. He
never tricked them to gain an advantage. A promise given by him
was always kept to the letter.
Failing to trap him only added to the malignity of his enemies.
Roosevelt was warned that he was "shadowed" night and day, but he
laughed their scheming to scorn. It is an article of faith with
him that an honest man has nothing to fear from plotters, and he
walked unharmed among their snares. The whole country remembers the
yearlong fight in the Police Board and Mayor Strong's vain attempt
to remove the obstructionist who, under an ill-conceived law,
was able to hold up the scheme of reform.
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