Evening star., 1933-03-24

When the other Roosevelt left the
White House in 1909, he authorized the
farewell statement that he'd had the
time of my life in the presidency.
Franklin D. Roosevelt exudes at every
pore indications that his experiences
at No. 1000 Pennsylvania avenue to
date are providing him with genuine
enjoyment, too. This does not, Of
course, mean that he is taking them
lightly or failing to recognize the seri-
business of the conditions he confronts.
1t merely means that the man seems
to thrive on work, no matter how
grueling, and on responsibility, no mat
ter how heavy Nobody sees SO much
of the President. outside of his White
House staff and the cabinet, as the
hundred odd newspaper men and wom-
en- who confer with him Wednesday
forenoons and Friday afternoons. Cor
respondents who've been quizzing Presi-
dents for 25 years-a few are still
extant-can't recall such gay and
festive White House press pow-wows
as those now in progress. Amid the
real business of the conferences F.
D. r. frequently invites good-natured
banter, and gets 1t. Peals of laughter
in which he joins are frequent. The
President conveys the impression that
every one Of his waking moments is
tull of zest and thrill. He infects his
inquisitive visitors with his own en-
thusiasm. They seldom leave the exec
utive on1ces without plenty Of leads
for good stories As newsmaker,
welt is the best thing that's happened
to Washington for many moons.
Every new President lives through a
period which has come to be known as
a White House honeymoon. The press
Of the Nation is friendly. Congress
passes with little or no delay any legis
lation he asks for. The mails and
telegraphs are freighted with copious
expressions Of confidence and good will
plain pee-pul." Everything IS lovely
and the goose hangs high. But there
inevitably comes time when the going
isn't SO good. The honeymoon spirit
wanes. Editorial criticism begins to
appear. Congress becomes balky. The
President finds that all is no longer
merry as wedding bells in June. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt has had far more OF
the early breaks" than fall to the lot
of the average new President. Emerg-
ency conditions gave him his Oppor-
tunity, and he grasped it. What people
are now asking is whether, when the
opening phase of the new deal is over,
and the country settles back to the
grim realities still to be faced, the
Roosevelt smile will retain its pristine
radiance? Will the President discover
that he rules over capricious America,
as ready to assail as it was to acclaim?
All that Is on the lap Of the gods.
Today, at the end of three weeks in
office, it can only be recorded that his
stock Is still booming, with no sign Of
slump.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, who left
Manila last week following his relin-
quishment of the governor generalship,
IS coming back to the United States
by slow stages. He and his family
aren't expected at their rural home
near Sycamore Hill, Long Island, until
late Summer Of early Autumn. They
intend visiting the Dutch East Indies,
India and Europe in the meantime.
Young Teddys farewell report on the
Philippines is in the War Departments S
hands, to be made public on March
27. Although he was on the Job out
there only a little over a year, the
islands under his regime experienced
one of the most constructive eras In
their American history. Theodore
Roosevelt, Sd, is completing his fresh
man year at Harvard. His class OF
1886 will have the honor Of graduating
in the year which will mark the 300th
anniversary of Johnnie Harvard's"
foundation. There are many amusing
campus tales of the youngest T. RS
experiences during the past few months
IN identifying himself as Theodore
Roosevelt"
4 X 4 4
Fate seems to decree that the new
administration and the American Fed
eration of Labor should be at logger
heads. Their recent run-in over the
appointment of Secretary Of Labor Per-
kins is now followed by President "Btlr
Green's heated opposition to tho "mili-
&naianti0UG a. lo6oe t11nU1nh IL. 3nG3