The Washington times., 1933-04-04


The excitement having sub
sided and his lob momentarily
done, Franklin returned to Warm
Springs for the continuation of
his treatments. Again and again
for the sake of party harmony
he had been entreated to run
II for the governorship. Each time
he had refused, claiming the
right to win back his health
before seeking to win new
laurels.
Meanwhile, in the North the
Democrats were assembling for
the State convention. One after
: another men whose names were
projected as gubernatorial pos
sibilities were knocked down
like so many ninepins. Gov
ernor Smith could see no one
but Franklin in the job. His
, kilograms availing nothing. he
sought the cooperation Of FL
eanor who was also at the con-
vention. She, however, feeling
that it was less than fair that
his decision should be influenced
by any one, would not lend her
self to persuading him in this
direction.
J, Wouldn't Answer Phone
He sought to find out whether
Franklin would run if he were
drafted, but Eleanor could tell
him no more than he had al
ready discovered for himself.
Call after call was put in for
Franklin, but he could not be
reached. The governor decided
that his inaccessibility was q
piece of strategy that sooner or
later, with enough persistence,
must crumble. He knew that
eventually Franklin must run
out of excuses for not coming
to the telephone. Finally at 2
in the morning he reached my
son and, after a series of the
refusals he anticipated. he put
: his question this way: IF the
convention nominates you, any
way, will you decline to run?"
There was an imperceptible
silence, a hesitation that lasted
long enough to supply Governor
Smith with the answer for which
he was looking, and q few min
utes later he called his friends
together and announced, Frank.
lin D. Roosevelt will be your
candidate for Governor" In
q few seconds the spirit domi-
mating the convention changed
from one of gloom to one Of
wholehearted preparation for
victorious battle. but in Warm
Springs the atmosphere was
charged with something closer
to despair.
The little white house, called
''The Little White House." not
because of any future aSpira-
tionS,, but because it happened
to be an accurate description,
might have been the scene Of a
funeral. Misery hung over it
like a pail. kilograms Of con.
gratulation poured in but the
cottage was deSolate.
Countless Addresses
Finally, l am told, Franklin's
CHEEKY voice was heard to re-
mark, well, If I've got to run
for governor. there's no use in
all of us getting sick about It'll"
What we who were close to
him feared was that by inter.
rupting his treatments at this
time he might be retarding or
even arreSting his recovery. But
as it happened he thrived on
the excitement of the vigorous
campaign he inaugurated at
Binghamton, N. Y, and was
heard to say, If could cam
paign another six months I be-
live I could throw away my
cane"
He waged q tireleSS battle,
making countless addresses be-
fore organizations, speaking
over the air and travelling an
average Of ITS miles a day by
car. His program Of attack
was reminiscent In a way. Of
that other campaign, the first
he made for the State senator
ship. It differed only in the
issues involved. He had definite
ideas about the development of
water power, about prohibition.
agriculture and labor legiSla-
ton. On none Of these prob
lens did he leave any doubt
as to where he stood or what
he meant to do in the event of
his election. On November 9
the citizenry Of New York State
went to the polls and by a
gratifying majority evidenced
their choice Of Franklin for
governor.
Simple Ceremony
My recollection of Franklin's
Inauguration in 1928 is a mem
ory that will never grow dim.
The ceremony was simple and
like most others of its kind.
I suppose, but it was made in
finitely impressive to me by the
presence of Governor Smith on
the platform who. in Offering
me his congratulations. recalled
with a touching tenderness,
my mother was on the platform
with me for two inaugurations."
= It Was not long after that