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some advice； quickened in Theodore his sense of obligation to the community。 Having money； he must use it； not for mere personal gratification； but in ways which would benefit those who were deprived； or outcast； or bereft。 But Theodore was too young and too energetic to be contented with the life of a philanthropist； no matter how noble and necessary its objects might be。 He had already accepted Emerson's dictum：
〃He who feeds men； serves a few； He serves all who dares be true。〃
Young as he was； he divined that much of the charitable work； to which good people devote them selves in order to lighten or relieve the ills which the sins and errors of mankind beget； would be needless if the remedy were applied； as it ought to be； to fundamental social conditions。 These； he believed； could be reached in many cases through political agency； and he resolved； therefore； to make a trial of his talents in political life。 The point at which he decided to 〃break into politics； 〃 as he expressed it； was the Assembly； or Lower House of the New York State Legislature。 Most of his friends and classmates； on hearing of his plan； regarded it as a proof of his eccentricity； a few of them； the more discerning； would not prejudge him； but were rather inclined to hope。 By tradition and instinct； he was a Republican； and in order to learn the political ropes he joined the Twenty…first District Republican Association of New York City。 The district consisted chiefly of rich； respectable； and socially conspicuous inhabitants of the vortex metropolis； with a leaven of the 〃masses。〃 The 〃classes〃 had no real zeal for discharging their political duty。 They subscribed to the campaign fund； but had too delicate a sense of propriety to ask how their money was spent。 A few of themand these seemed to be endowed with a special modicum of patriotismeven attended the party primaries in which candidates were named。 The majority went to the polls and cast their vote on election day； if it did not rain or snow。 For a young man of Roosevelt's position to desire to take up politics seemed to his friends almost comic。 Politics were low and corrupt； politics were not for 〃gentlemen〃； they were the business and pastime of liquor…dealers； and of the degenerates and loafers who frequented the saloons； of horse…car conductors； and of many others whose ties with 〃respectability〃 were slight。
To join the organization； Roosevelt had to be elected to the Twenty…first District Republican Club； for the politicians of those days kept their organization close； not to say exclusive； and in this way they secured the docility of their members。 The Twenty first District Club met in Morton Hall； a dingy； barnlike room situated over a saloon； and furnished severely with wooden benches； many spittoons； and a speaker's table decorated with a large pitcher for ice…water。 The regular meetings came once a month and Roosevelt attended them faithfully； because he never did things by halves； and having made up his mind to learn the mechanism of politics； he would not neglect any detail。
Despite the shyness which ill health caused him in his youth； he was really a good 〃mixer；〃 and； growing to feel more sure of himself； he met men on equal terms。 More than that； he had the art of inspiring confidence in persons of divers sorts and； as he was really interested in knowing their thoughts and desires； it never took him long to strike up friendly relations with them。
Jake Hess； the Republican 〃Boss〃 of the Twenty…first District； evidently eyed Roosevelt with some suspicion； for the newcomer belonged to a class which Jake did not desire to see largely represented in the business of 〃practical politics；〃 and so he treated Roosevelt with a 〃rather distant affability。〃 The young man； however； got on well enough with the heelersthe immediate trusty followers of the Bossand with the ordinary members。 They probably marveled to see him so unlike what they believed a youth of the 〃kid…glove〃 and 〃silkstocking〃 set would be； and they accepted him as a 〃good fellow。〃
Of all Roosevelt's comrades during this first year of initiation； a young Irishman named Joe Murray was nearest to him； an honest fellow； fearless and stanch； who remained his loyal friend for forty years。 Murray began as a Democrat of the Tammany Hall tribe； but having been left in the lurch by his Boss at an election； he determined to punish the Boss； and this he did at the first opportunity by throwing his influence on the side of the Republican candidate。 The Republicans won； although the district was overwhelmingly Democratic； and Murray joined the Republican Party。 He worked in the district where Jake Hess ruled。 Like other even greater men； Jake became arrogant and treated the gang under him with condescension。 Murray resented this and resolved that he would humble the Boss by supporting Roosevelt as a candidate for the Assembly。 Hess protested； but could not prevent the nomination and during the campaign he seems to have supported the candidate whom he had not chosen。
Roosevelt sent the following laconic appeal to some of the voters of his district：
New York； November 1； 1881。
DEAR SIR：
Having been nominated as a candidate for member of Assembly for this District； I would esteem it a compliment if you honor me with your vote and personal influence on Election day。
Very respectfully
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Certainly； nothing could be simpler than this card； which contains no puff of either the party or the candidate； or no promise。 It drew a cordial response。
Twenty…first Assembly District。
40th to 86th Sts。； Lexington to 7th Aves。
We cordially recommend the voters of the Twenty…first Assembly District to cast their ballots for
Theodore Roosevelt
for member of Assembly
and take much pleasure in testifying to our appreciation of his high character and standing in the community。 He is conspicuous for his honesty and integrity； and eminently qualified to represent the District in the Assembly。
New York November 1； 1881
F。 A。 P。 Barnard； William T。 Black； Willard Bullard； Joseph H。 Choate； William A。 Darling； Henry E。 Davies； Theodore W。 Dwight； Jacob Hess； Morris K。 Jesup； Edward Mitchell； William F。 Morgan； Chas。 S。 Robinson； Elihu Root； Jackson S。 Shultz； Elliott F。 Shepard； Gustavus Tuckerman； S。 H。 Wales； W。 H。 Webb。
This list bears the names of at least two men who will be long remembered。 There are also several others which were doubtless of more political value to the aspirant to office in 1881。
Just after the election Roosevelt wrote to his classmate； Charles G。 Washburn：
'Too true； too true； I have become a 〃political hack。〃 Finding it would not interfere much with my law； I accepted the nomination to the Assembly and was elected by 1500 majority； leading the ticket by 600 votes。 But don't think I am going to go into politics after this year； for I am not。'
Roosevelt's allusion to the law requires the statement that in the autumn of 1880 he had begun to read law in the office of his uncle； Robert Roosevelt； not that he had a strong leaning to the legal profession； but that he believed that every one； no matter how well off he might be； ought to be able to support himself