Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-03-23
Printer Writes
F. DIS History
Numerous Statistical Angles Cited
Action of Presidents Admin
istratiOn.

5Stfdt5On.
President Roosevelt has a self
appointed unofficial historian. His
name is Martin A. Olmem; he
lives at 1900 Eighteenth street,
Washington, and he is performing
the functions of chronicler of the
Chief Executives every word and
act.
MI. Olmem explains his labors
are being scientifically historical"
II started in on election night,
1882" he said to a Washington
Star man, ''and since that date /
have accumulated mountains of
material. I clip 40 newspapers
and magazines a day, and I sort
out the clippings in So different
classifications based on the plat
form ranks of the Democratic
party. In this way I keep track
of Mr.. Roosevelt's promises and
performances. / know most Of his
speeches by heart and have no
trouble remembering what he has
said from his nomination up to
the present time. / have his ideas
caralouged in my mind, and I ar
range by data accordingly. Other
people may not have time to check
up on him, but 1 have an advan-
tage in that respect, and it gives
me occupation for my leisure"
The cost Of his enterprise, Mr..
Olmem admits, has been heavy. 81
haye spent a lot of money!" he
agrees, 'but I think the investmen:
is worth while. One of these days
somebody will want this material
Indeed, even now people call on ME
for Information which they have
heard l have. Some of my CON-
pilations have ben printed in PAM
phlet form.
THE Congressional Record is
one of my sources. I clip both
the pro-Roosevelt and the anti
Roosevelt speeches. But ] also
clip AL Smiths magazine and Ray
mond Moley's.
MY principal effort, however,
is to get community opinion,
rather than individual praise or
criticism, the editorial pages of the
newspapers r my gold mines;
they reflect what the masses are
thinking, and that is what I par
ticularly want"
Mr.. Olmem used to be a Demo-
crat, and he has in his parlor a
framed certificate of thanks from,
the Democratic National Commit
tee given him for organizing 4S
Democratic clubs during the Will
son campaign in 1912. But he de-
clares: Association with the
Democrats made me a Republican.
Back in 1916 l used to argue with
Victor Roseswater about politics,
and he was just as hot on the one
side as I was on the other. But
now I am just as good a Republi-
can as he is"
A native of Duluth, Mimi, Mr..
Olmem is a printer by trade and
has been helping to make news
papers ever since his boyhood. He
worked in the composing room of
the Washington Herald when
former President Hoover owned
that plant, and he still is loyal to
his ertswhile employer.
Mr.. Olmem showed his system
of filing his "ammunitions." Scores
of scrapbooks, piles of heavy yell
low envelopes, stacks of cuttings
he displayed. DO you want to
see what the country thinks of the
Presidents treatment of Col. Lind
bergh? Well, here are 60 editori-
ais
"And here is some materia; on
Gen. Hugh Johnson. We mustn't
forget him. He has to be watch
ed, too.
Secretary Hull, also. This en-
velope is dedicated to his part in
the new deal"
One after another, Mr.. Olrem
called the roll of the leaders Of
the administration. He has data
on them all.