Evening star., 1934-10-26
FIRST LADY MIKES
IN PLATFORM TILT
Replies to Attack Over Pres
ident's Policies by COP.
Woman Candidate.
BY the Associated Press.

ROCHESTER, N. Y, October 26.-
From her spirited brush with a Re-
publican candidate over the policies of
the President, Mrs. Franklin d. Roose-
welt turned back today toward her old
home at Albany In her political
stumping tour.
OF her decision to campaign for her
friend, Mrs. Caroline O'Day, Demo-
cratic candidate for Representative at
Large, the Presidents wife said:
I'm my own State, where I have
worked and known many people, I am
sure they will understand"
In a speech here last night, which
followed her impromptu defense of
the New Deal at Buffalo earlier in
the day, Mrs. Roosevelt declared she
had expected criticism for departing
from White House precedent. This
had always held the First Lady apart
from politics.
Despite the fact that q number OF
people think q woman in the White
House should not take part in politics,
decided after thought that in my
own State, where have worked and
known many people. I am sure they
will understand" Mrs. Roosevelt said.
THE principal reason Is because
I happen to believe In Democracy
and the need of the right type Of
women in politics"
Mrs. Roosevelts appearance at
Buffalo had repercuSsions in a rally
addressed by Robert Moses, Repub-
lican candidate for Governor, in the
same city last night.
"Should Mind Own Business"
william B. Groat, candidate for
Representative at large, declared:
1T Is my humble belief that the
First Lady Of the land should mind
her own business and stay out of
partisan politics"
Moses deplored the booing which
greeted criticism of the national ad-
ministration by Miss Natalie F.
Couch, Republican candidate for
Representative at large 1t was Miss
Couch, speaking from the same plat
form as the Presidents wife at a
meeting of the League Of Women
Voters, who aroused Mrs. Roosevelt
to a defense of the Presidents
policies.
1T was not representative of the
intelligent thinking women voters of
Erie County" the Republican guber-
material candidate declared, COM
menting on the booing.
Standing at Mrs. Roosevelt's elbow
Miss Couch was booed and cheered
when she said:
1T took the people Of France four
years to learn that their republic was
no more when Napoleon became En-
peror, but the people in this country
have learned in year and half that
they no longer have any republic"
Miss Couch launched a sharp attack
at Democratic State and Federal pol
icies. Soon the women in the audience
observed that Mrs Roosevelt had COM
menced to take notes.
The Presidents wife waited until the
Republican candidate finished and her
turn came. Then she stood up. She
wore a black dress with q touch of
white at the neck, and a. black hat.
She began her reply by telling her
audience that Miss Couch, like many
Republican men - tasks a balanced
budget but fails to tell US how she will
balance it."
Would you stop feeding the hun
CRY? Would you stop helping the un-
employed?" she asked.
Mrs. Roosevelt went on to say she
appreciated "the value OF meetings
such as these. because they gave us q
chance to hear various points Of view,
no matter how much we may not agree
with them"
Some members of the audience broke
into applause.
The Presidents wife sometimes held
her glasses in her hand to emphasize
point. Occasionally she put them
on to glance at notes.
II would like to see q woman elected
to Congress from this State with the
background. experience and broadness
Of vision which Mrs. ODay would give
u.s." she said in her later speech at
Rochester.
I'VE have thought along the same
lines for years and she bt ieves as I
do that every one Of us has an obliga-
ton to prevent the return Of war"
Mrs. Roosevelt's program also called
for q speech at Syracuse on her way
to Albany to top of her days program.