Evening star., 1932-04-27
Roosevelt Reply to Smith
Viewed as Plea for HARMONY

"The olive branch" is declared by the
public to have been extended by Gov
Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York in
lis st. Paul speech, which had been
heralded as reply to the address of
! former Gov. Alfred E. Smith at the
Jefferson dinner. His elaboration of his
views in favor of the little man" is ex-
tensively analyzed, in view of the
charge of setting "class against class. -
There is definite support for his posi-
/ ton on national issues, though there Is
some demand for further Qualification.
Alfred E. Smith could not have been
himself, certainly not his former self, -
thinks the Atlanta Journal Demo
cratic), when he took that invidious
end utterly illogical dig at a great fell
low Democrat on the anniversary of
Thomas Jefferson's birth. Fortunately
for the party, so petty an explosion will
make no rift in its forward-marching
ranks. Franklin D. Roosevelt is unit
ing its liberal elements as they have not
been united since the days of woodrow
Wilson and is mastering to its standard
hosts of independent voters as well, for
the reason that he does stand up
for equal rights against special privi-
legeS and does plead the cause of the
forgotten man. If Democracy is to win,
or deserve to win, it must be true to
itself. Its mission is vastly greater
than soothing disappointed personal
ambitions or pretending to run with
the hares while hunting with the
hounds. 1t turns today to Franklin D.
Roosevelt because it is returning to the
truth from which it was born"
Roosevelt has not set class against
class" declares the Portland, Greg,
Journal independently. He has not
set the rich against the poor. He has
not set the poor against the rich. All
Of that, so far as it exists in America,
has already been done. 1t has been
done by these times. It has been done
by the concentration of wealth, the
centraliZing of power and the departure
from the simple Jeffersonian principles
of individual rights and equal oppor-
tunity, which were extolled at the very
dinner Gov. Smith addressed"
The Omaha World-Herald Gnde-
pendent Democrat), quotes Gov. RooSe-
velt's statement: II am pleading for a
policy broad enough to include every
part Of our economic structure, policy
that seeks to help all simultaneously,
that shows an understanding of the
fact that there are millions of people
who cannot be helped by merely help
ing their employers. Not only among
the sections of this country. but among
it's economic units and the various
groups in these units, there must be
common participation, planned on the
basis of a shared common life, the low
as we'll as the high. In much of our
present plans there is too much dispo-
s1tion to mistake the part for the whole,
the head for the body. plead not for
class control, but for a true concern OF
interest" On this the World Herald
comments: This is not radicalism. 1t
is not denagogue's unscrupulous plea.
1t is sound Americanism. 1t is the
wisest conservatism. 1t is the spirit OF
true democracy that exalts no class over
another, no section over another, but
places all on an equal basis of right
and privilege, and understands that the
foundations must be preserved If the
superstructure Is to stand. When Gov.
Roosevelt pleads for such a policy he is
defending the vital interests of the
rich the same as Of the poor, of the
employer the same as of the employed.
There may be those so blinded by a
stupid sel1shness that they cannot see
the light of existing conditions, that
they are bears for punishment"
For the most part" says the Scran-
ton Times (Democrat), Mr.. Roosevelt's
address was an elaboration of his po-
litical philosophy together with a re-
view of his beliefs regarding utility
control and the tariff. As for the utili-
ties, like power, he favors State control
and holds with Democrats generally
that the present Smoot- -Hawley tariff
bill carries excessive rates and is one
of the direct causes of our trade loss :"
zone principle is not a platform"
suggests the Milwaukee Journal (in-
"Mr. Roosevelt did not
make q platform; he did not, In fact,
make utility plank, He did explain