The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-11-18
The Boom for Roosevelt

It is a significant thing that the initial Roosevelt-for-
President club has been formed at Warm Springs, Geor-
eia. a health resort daily growing more famous as a
spot where treatment is given to persons af1llcted WIFI
the after-effects of infantile paralysis.
MI. Roosevelt, following his recent triumph in the New
York state elections, announced that he was going to
visit Warm Springs to see how his pet project was get
ting along. Immediately, word came from the southern
health resort that the folks thereabout had organized
a Roosevelt for President club and would meet him at
the train with a brass band and the glad news. The idea
to ask the rest of the South to join in the move
ment.
EXCEPT that it may point the way for others, 1t Is not
likely that the movement will amount to much In the
South. Nevertheless, it serves the purpose OF bringing
out clearly one of Roosevelt's major assets in any ma
tional political campaign.
It will be recalled that he was assistant secretary Oh
the navy when he was selected in 1920 as the Democratic
party,s vice presidential nominee. Not long atterwsro
he was stricken with infantile paralysis and Tor montnS
it was not known if he would live or die. Then he was
able to get about in a wheel chair out IL was 1eareo
that he never would walk again.
But Mr.. Roosevelt went to Warm Springs. There the
benefits of the baths, coupled with daily massage and
exercise, wrought wonders. When he returned ne was
practically cured and now no one would Know by LOOK
ing at him that he ever had been afflicted with a malay
which cripples most persons for life.
Naturally. MI. ROOSevelt'S cure MADE warm springs
famous and his interest in persons afflicted with the
dread paralysis was %quickened. He could do something
IN aid those who had been his fellow sufferers and he
did re enlisted the aid of rich and powerful persons
in his net charity and the result has been the construc-
ton of a really imposing sanitarium where anyone may
20 and where the expenses of treatment and living costs
are held to the minimum. In some cases, persons go there
and are treated free.
No one gainsays that Mr.. Roosevelt has done an I'M.
portant and effective piece Of work for those who GER
tainly need help. But, in addition, he has created a pic
ture of himself which will leave an impression III the
minds OF many Americans. It is that Of a strong man
stricken by a disease which has proved fatal to many
but living and recovering, partly by sheer force OF deter
mination, to take up his work in the world again. HI
serves as an example to others who suffer under handi.
caps.
And. in addition, he has called himself to the atten'
ton of the Democratic South In a forceful and friendly
way. Wet and a New Yorker, he has given the Soutf
the picture of a man who is truly interested in human
ity, a man of character and determination coupled with
a friendly interest in those less fortunate than himself
The South will feel that it knows him and has some
thing in common with him and these are valuable asset
In politics.
It may be that Roosevelt will be the Democratic presi
Dental nominee in 1882. If he is, and this despite thu
fact that he is wet, it is hardly probable that the ma
ton will again see the so-called Solid South rem
politically asunder as it was in 1928. He will have fewe
Of the handicaps under which the Smith candidac
iabored two years ago and a great many more assets
It might not be too much to say that his tragedy Of 1872
may turn out, eleven years later, to be his creates
political blessing.