Evening star., 1934-07-22
ROOSEVELT CLIMB
SECRET REVEALED
Col. Howe Says 3 Years in
Bed Is Best Training
for Presidency.
BY VI. r. HESSEssY.

Special Dispatch 70 The ssar
HOREErECK BEACH, WEST
PORT. Mass. July 81 (NANAt.-
'sThe best training for the presidency
of the United States Is three years III
bed" remarked Col. Louis McHenry
Howe. President Rooseyelts NO
man.
with Col Howe clad in white duck
pveralls. A soft shirt, an Did beach hat
his feet lucased In sneakers, we sat on
the veranda of his modest seashore
home, overlooking Long Island Sound
the entrance 10 Buzzards Bay on the
left. Newport and New Bedford on the
right.
The colonel was in fine fcttle, sur
rounded by his family, save Mrs.
Howe. who was Ia Fall River. A
gentle breeze came In from the sea,
tempering the July sun. President
Rooscvelt's chief secretary relaxed on
one Of the old-fashioned canvas ham,
mocks suspended from the weather.
stained rafters Of the veranda.
Has Modern Workshop.
The colonel wanted 10 talk about
Inc ifEAlul htAHbEAAtIiF VA saA0 t9AAitAt''
home. way out on the point, away
from brain trIsters. office seekers and
designing politicians, and about the
benefit OF sea bathing. rowing and
sailing on what he regards as THE
finest stretch OF beach on the Atlantic
Coast"
Carpenters were putting the finish
ing touches on his laboratory In the
basement of his cottage. He led the
way and opened the door TO what the
photographer. who accompanied me
on the trip, said was zone of the best
and most modern photographer
workshops" he had ever seen.
Photography is my hobby" said
the colonel. his face beaming as he
proudly exhibited his new laboratory.
Been interested in picturemaking
for so years." he explained. Dropped
it for carpentry, but took it up again
lately. This outfit was Christmas
present / bought for myself"
From this workshop the colonel led
the way TO the barn" converted into
a study, library and literary workshop,
the shelves of which are filled with
books and ship models.
Used TO Be Farm Home.
1--WE have been coming here for 30
years." explained Col. Howe. 1T
isn't much to look at. For a number
of years we rented 1t and then bought
1t, 1t used to be the home of cram
berry farmer, until the Winter storms
ruined the cranberry bogs, covering
them over with sand"
BY this time the colonel was ready
to resume his hammock seat and l
gradually led him back to his obSer-
yation about the best training for a
President. He should know, because
he was brought up in politics. His
father was the owner Of newspaper,
the Saratoga Sun, also postmaster OF
the village of Saratoga, N. Y, famed
as racing center, the rendezvous OF
Gen. Grant. Boss Platt and Senator
Conklin, Republicans: Cleveland and
Hill and other big Democrats OF the
Empire State.
In his younger days Louis Howe
covered the New York Legislature for
James Gordon Benefits Herald.
While thus engaged he met Franklin
Roosevelt, young Senator whom he
picked as a good bet for future po-
litical honors, tied up with him and
for 20 years has been Roosevelt's
man behind.
Roosevelt Is Different.
"You and T." said he, lighting an
other cigarette, "actiye on our feet.
busy with many things, once in
while get a thought or an idea that
is worth while but we are prone not
to follow 1t to the end to ascertain If
it is practicable, but in Franklin
Roosevelt'S case it Is different.
I'm his years in bed he thought
things through and developed a phi
losophy of society and government,
philosophy of life. He has always
been of gregarious nature, a stu
dent, good judge of men. Men with
ioeas always interest him. Time and
time again at the White House, after
We have arranged his schedule for
the day, using up every minute Of his
time, somebody turns up with an idea
and he viii spend an hour discussing
subject that interests him, thus
throwing Off our schedule.
In his long illness he had a chance
to concentrate on problems of govern
ment and when he became Governor
Of New York he had planned pro-
gram for the betterment OF the State
and its 10. 900 900 people The same
problems that affected the people OF
New York affect the people of the
United States and when he became
President he was ready to apply the
remedies for their economic and
financial ills which he had thought
out in his long illness. He is, as you
know no devotee Of laiSsez faire He
has never hesitated to smash prece-
dents If he believes that a change is
necessary for the public good His
boldneSs frightens the timid. but it
must be remembered that he comes
from enterprising ancestors who
blszed the way to fame and fortune
on sea and land.
Knows Men and Events,
''The President often surprises even
those who have worked with him for
years with his intimate knowledge of
men and events. He has retepuYe
memory, often revealed TO callers who
find he is intimately acquainted with
local conditions in their States.
venture 10 say that he knows the
name of every prominent politician
who was for him and against him in
his fight FOR the presidential nomi-
nation and why he was for him or
opposed to him.
Few people know that Franklin
Roosevelt began laying the founda-
ton for mis- nomination soon after
the disastrous defeat of the party in
1928. In the years that he was un-
able to get about, Mr.. Roosevelt kept
up a wide correspondence with all
kinds OF people on all sorts OF In
tereStlng topics. think that it would
be found that more people in the
United States have letters from him
than from any other public man in
the country HE vN,olt4iral norDar4soNe