Montana labor news., 1932-10-27
Rooseyelt's Record.

Governor Roosevelt is unusual in American political life, in that he was
born Of wel-to-do parents, never had TO aItend puuohc scnoos, n was
career began at Groton. Rarely have his biHeret political opponents, how
ever, found fault with his human qualities; he is democratic, possesses at
times a certain engaging humility and open-mindedness, and withal is
given general credit for a distinctly pleasing personality which is IN adj
mmstrative asset. His first political fight occurred in 1911, when IS a state
| a reacionary utilties-serving politician as nominee for the U. S. senate
gaining a repute for progressivism. He rose into the Democratic party
counsels by espousing Woodrow Wilson's cause, and when appointed assist
ant secretary Of the navy under Josphus Daniels, though he came under
Republican fire for methods used in investigation of immortality among
department. His recovery from a stroke of infantle paralysis in 1921 is a
verttabe epic of fortitude, eve though he was able to avail himef of
facilities not open to poorer victims, and has. justly won him praise for per
sonal characteristics He has labored to relieve the lot of other paralysis
sufferers. He has wroked as governor for reform of the budget; has
done something to relieve the farmers taxes by turning them back from
the general state purposes to local communities; has initiated measures
looking toward a land utilization program for placing people back N the
land; and has taken toward power companies in a part of northern New
York an attitude of strong regulation, advocating public ownership of plants
but not distribution. See This Man Roosevelt, by Earle LOCKER brewer,
Warren and Putnam); also Democratic party literature, obtainabe from
the party headquarters in the Hotel Bltnore, New York City.
Against Mr.. Roosevelt his critics have charged that he is notably indie
csive, standing on both sides of questions when a bold attitude would en-
barrass his political chances; they content that he is weak; that he has
never really understood the power issue Oh taken a fortnight statewide
stand, and that his neglect of the distribution of current leaves consum-
es where they were before; that he has permitted the light and power
trust in New York City to advance rates to 80 per cent of the consumers
without protest; that he has talked of the need for a shorter working day
but has refused to change the lot of some 100000 employees in his own
state who work a seven-day week; that he has refused to call a special
session of the legislature to provide adequate relief for the unemployed.
eve while admitting that present relief was inadequate; that he was for the
League of Nations in 1920 but against it in 1892 on grounds of expediency;
that Notwithstanding his early attack OF Tammany S a young legislator he
plant instrument for Tammany; that when the Civic Affairs Committee
urged him to act against the corrupt Tammany politicians of New York
attack o. the committee instead of the politicians; that he talks of peaceful
world relations, but is at heart mIitarstic, and more so than any recent
of his career in the navy, but for years has been a renowned collector of
naval books prints, and ship models; that he evades direct questions as to
his stand o n rms reduction for this country. See literature of other
parties; also files of The Nation, etc.
EDITORS NoTE-owing to lack of space in this issue Of The Labor
Socialist an Communist candidates.