Evening star., 1935-06-09
ROOSEVELT DISTURBING
LEADERS OF DEMOCRACY
Common Action by Conservatives of
Party and G. o. p. Seems Logical,
but Is Not Yet Far Advanced.
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

4 4 II is more so when the Presi-
dent has such extraordinary
powers as have been conferred on the
present President. From now on the
personal traits Of Mr.. Roosevelt are
likely to engage more and more at
tention. ANY one who attended the
two newspaper conferences in which
Mr., Roosevelt devoted himself largely
to expressing and stimulating criti-
cism Of the Supreme Court decision
was likely to feel that personal char
acteristics of the President are apt to
play a large part in coming events.
The country Is going to need to
understand Mr.. Roosevelt's personal
ity. Understanding will not be easy,
for the personality is most complex.
The following little picture was writ
ten by one Who Is an ardent admirer
Of the President. one who has almost
the status Of an intimate of the White
House family, Ernest X. Lindley Of the
New York Herald Tribune. author OF
"The Roosevelt Revolution" Mr..
Iindley is a man of fine character
and high intelligence He has young
mans sympathy with change. l
Imagine he would describe himself as
q young liberal" Hand in hand with
his political convictions goes personal
liking for the President. 1t is with
consideration of this personal back
ground that the following should be
read:
:" - Mr.. Roosevelt is an extremely
complex person. Strip his high office
from him and he would remain one
Of those rare people who remind you
Of no one else. The Nation has never
had a President with his blend of
pronounced qualities. Mr.. Roosevelt
is probably the most radical man IN
Washington. and yet very conserva-
tive man. He is both daring and cau-
tious, He can seize a new idea or
make a decision with breath-taking
speed. vet he can temporize until the
last possible second for reaching de-
cision. He is extremely mobile ana
flexible. vet underneath he has steel
like vein of stubborness. 1t is not
always possible to forecast in which
combination Mr.. Roosevelt's qualities
are going to assert themselves. He
has an extremely agile mind and the
ability to skip around over dozen
subjects in as many minutes without
losing track of any of them
Picture Drawn by Sympathizer.
That is Mr.. Roosevelt drawn by the
hand of one sympathetic to him ana
believing in what he calls the "Roose-
welt Revolution" 1t is picture from
- of oI, ,iyat
support, suffused with friendllness.
The same qualities of the President,
If portrayed by some one detached and
critical, might arrive at a different
picture.
What We are now going to see is
how these qualities of the President
will operate under the strain OF oppo-
sition. So far Mr.. Roosevelt has had
the status of one enjoying almost
universal popular support. Indeed,
during the earlier days OF the Roose-
welt administration. when the country
was in fear of panic, it was, seriously
and sincerely. almost treason to oppose
the President. Under the conditions,
he had practically the status OF the
national emblem, of the Great Seal to
because it was what 1t was.
One might say that Mr.. Roosevelt
had the same advantages Of universal
s,,pport that the Constitution had,
and the Supreme Court as an instl-
tuition. Since now Mr.. Roosevelt has
brought the Constitution and the Su-
pren1e Court under criticism, he has
nut himself under the same necessity
of enduring criticism. L observed
that even Senator Borah, in his radio
address last Sunday night. seemed
still under the spell of Mr.. Roose-
velt's earlier immunity. Senator
Boraln seemed disposed to aim his
more direct criticism at Mr.. Roose-
velt's associates and advisers. But IL
js Mr.. Roosevelt in person who has
appealed to the country in opposition
to the unanimous judgment of the
Supreme Court, and to the Constltu-
tion as the Supreme Court inter-
preted 1t. BY that Mr.. Roosevelt has
ehallenged the convictions and sentl-
n,ents of great masses OF voters ana
pf men highly respected. From these
there Is sure to be counter-attack.
There is fight ahead and we shall
zee how Mr.. Roosevelts personal traits
Express themselves under the strain
of opposition and tension, perhaps
Some disappointment and defeat.
Lacks Momentum as Movement.
As a matter of recording informa-
lion az it exists today, I wish not to
20 too far in emphasizing the posi-
bility OF common action by Repub-
licans and conservative Democrats in
the presidential campaign next year:
As a logical thing to do, it could
not be overemphasized. But as a
movement under way, it does not at
this time have great momentum.
There is the beginning of organiza-
ton looking to that end. but 1t has
not vet progressed far. 1t is certain
to 20 further. Whether it will reach
the stage of concrete action cannot
vet be foretold. The idea appeals to
many voters in both groups-to mil
lions of them, I feel quite safe in
saying.
For canvassing the possibility Of
action against Mr.. Roosevelt by con-
xervative Democrats, let us divide the
Democratic l6dueiS eAoNPS'
Democratic leaders who are office
holders in the Roosevelt administra-
ton; Democratic leaders in Congress,
and Democratic leaders not now hold
Ing any office.
Democratic leaders who are office
holders in Mr.. Roosevelt's administra-
tion must practice both prudence and
rood taste: and both those qualities
6ictate silence about administration
tendencies In which they do not be-
Iieve-silence, at least, as long as they
remain in the administration. 1t
need surprise no one If within the
rorning year some Democrats highly
placed in the administration ana IA
iniliar to the public should take the
same action as Budget Director Lewis
douglas, who resigned because OF deep
dissent from policies Mr.. Roosevelt Is
following.
Temperament Restless.
What is now going on in political