Evening star., 1932-02-23
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
!. G.. M.

The Life Story of IF. D.; an Au-
thentic Biography. BY Leland M.
Ross and Allen w. Grobin. New
York: e. P. Dutton & Co.
No question about 1t. The Roosevelt
tribe Is, by nature, Of the crusaders
order. IT. r." in his day, welded the
big stick" Justify, often savagely, to
save the souls of the sinful and errant.
Coming along later, IF. D." under an
Identical drive, makes use instead of
the weapons of laughter and good fell
lowship. Born, educated and trained
in the best Of Americas still young ira
dition. the Roosevelts and their kind
are the ones of all others to make good
the promise Of 1920, and thereabout,
for free and independent common
wealth OF the New World.
Most certainly their work has been
cut out for them. New York, in its
politics Is no Sodom and Gomorrah.
due for destruction on account of its
depravity. Yet New York, from the
logic of its situation, from its many
deep layers of citizanry. already infu-
ential and active. while not yet even
half Americanized in feeling and out
lOok-New York, politically speaking. is
a field demanding crusader, or arch
angel himself.
But the Roosevelts, fortunately for
the situation, are neither medieval
knights nor any part of the angelic
host released for service to a necessi-
tous world. Just men.
*
And here is the story Of one OF them,
The story of Franklin Roosevelt. 'F. d y
On the order of current news, this biog
raphy. One can pass from it to press
opinions by Mark Sullivan or another
practiced and expert political fore
caster on the chances of Mr.. Roosevelt
for the high Office to which he now
openly and formally aspires. The Jour
nalistic stamp of the biography is
stressed also by virtue of the profession
OF its authors. A distinct advantage TO
the record as a whole, this sense of i'm
mediacy, this effect of actual contact
set up between reader and central fig
ure OF the story. A picturesque and
vigorous moving picture turned of bv
Waywise news writer's,
An engaging adventure. A refresh
ment along the line bf natural selec-
tion as motive for choosing politics as
profession. To help the netchbor-
hood in some civic project. To ex-
tend such assistance to increasingly
widened area. To go on, in public.
spirited effort for this beneht or that
one; Nothing but growth in intelligent
work for the people.
Birth, youth. schooling, profession. all
the time growing sense of things to
be done for the other folks. That is
the program whose filling out here
makes a matter as captivating as ro-
nance. But it is true. And the DO
ltlcal side of the adventure came along
IN the most natural manner. Just about
the time Of young Rooseyelt's active
emergence into the open a new politi-
cal game had come into rather free
usage. Hunting the BOSSES" it was
caueo. Bossism had become an insti-
tuition in New York, and otherwherc
Growing, no doubt under the theory
that most people should be bossed. a
theory made plausible by the fact that
the ma jority so readily submit to sub
orolnatlon. Well, at any rate. young
Roosevelt began his career as political
leader by setting himself against these
oVerlords of politics in New York, 1t
appears that both parties evolved this
agency OF control and direction. And
the young warrior fought them on both
sides. Democrats in Tammarly and re
puolicans upstate.
linen comes the account OF hieh Of
nee. Governor of New York, with many
conquest for the rights Of the COM
mon man upheld and sustained. You
know the story. As politics it is a re-
storing element injected into a situa-
ton most dangerous. the growth of in
olvloual power in lines where human
sel1shness and need are most set upon
and rendered most compliant, most
viciousiy compliant.
There Is another adventure here one
less well known than the uns and
downs of politics can possibly be. That
Is the story Of Franklin Roosevelt as
conqueror OF the terrible infantile
paralysis that attacked him in seem
ingly fatal power. And not that alone.
The story, even greater, is that of his
EFFORTS, successful and bountiful, to es-
tablish foundation for the cure of
others afflicted as he himself had been.
That one story, set down here, is a mes
sage for the world to read in praise of
the high courage and humanitarian
soul OF just one man, Franklin Roose-
velt.
A4onCfCA, Il14o - q oIO1y OA
1t Is intended to be that. And lust
once, only once, does this man allow
himself to step down a bit In the
character of his comment upon leaders
OF the other party. 1t is late in the
book, good moment to close it for the
recollection of this mans fine magma
nimity toward his old co-worker, Al
fred Smith, now his political rival in
the Democratic field. When the Presi-
Dental election Is over, regardless Of the
issue, sit down to the reading Of this
impressive and beautiful story Of a
young American working for America.
Not so good that. for the moment, it
savors of political hurrah.
SAMUEL SEABURY: A Challenge. BY
Walter Chambers. Illustrated New
York, The Century Co.
A spirited and absorbing story of an
other N6W York man who has bent his
professional life to the service of social
equity, to the rescue of the people from
the power of the politicians. The rights
OF man as opposed to the rights of
property. Such has been the outlook
and such the goal of Judge Seabury
ever since, when only % years old. he
was elected to the bench. Defeated in
politics as candidate for the governor
ship of the Empire State, he returned
to the practice of law. Chosen to lead
investigations in more than one de-
partment of the metropolitan lapses
from good government, Judge Seabury
not only by his legal knowledge but by
his utter fearleSsness as well has be-
come an outstanding man throughout
the country as flaming advocate of
decency and fair dealing toward the
people by those who are invested with
power. 1t is likely that so long as there
are men to buy and other men to sell.
themselves in both cases, there will be
bad government-inequity, injustice.
Yet so long as there are fighters Of
the Seabury stamp free government Is
not hopeless matter.
As young fellow SeaburY met Henry