The Washington times., 1935-10-01
PRESIDENTS 5
AIDES MOURN
CLERGY NOTE
BY EARL GOODWIN

Mournful faces among the PreSl-
dents friends here indicate the
state of mind of inner circles folk
over what they consider is about
the worst break the President has
had, namely, the public response
to the much-talked over letters to
the clergy.
Men high in the Administration
claim to be ignorant over the fact
that the Presidents letter is so
close to the wording of an identi,
cal letter sent to the clergy Of Wis
consin by Gov. Philip La Toilette.
Of that State.
The La Toilette brothers called
on the President about a month
ago. Most of those who watch al
fairs here seem to think that the
La Follettes sold" the idea Of b
letter to the ministers at that visit.
But no one here will admit having
so close a part in the idea as to
give anyone an inkling as to who
It was who sent out for the Presl-
dent a letter which was bound to
be made public, and which almost
paralleled in words the letter OF
Gov. La Toilette last March.
Early Not Informed
Stephen T. Early, the Presi-
dents secretary in charge of press
relations, claimed to know nothing
about the letter at all did not
know it was being sent out. This
apparently indicates that a large
part of the White House activity
is unknown to some of the PreSi-
dents close official staff. 1t Is
believed by observers that if some
of the experienced members Of the
Presidents staff had been given
charge of this letter -to-the-clergy
matter, at least it would have been
so completely rewritten as to have
no parallel in words with the
La Toilette epistle.
Democratic National Committee
attaches do not comment, but
Democratic politicians are a bit
worried about it. Republican lead
GrS mere SIMPLY grin.
Responses to these ministerial
letters so far as they have been
made public show critical trend
adverse to the Administration: but
opposition leaders here frankly
admit that a large share of the
answers will not be made public
unless the White House carries out
its original plan and makes them
all public-or a digest of the views.
Many of the Presidents critics
attribute to him nothing but politi-
cal expediency in the letter; his
friends come forward warmly to
his support and declare he was
seeking advice.
Drys UnfOrgiving
OF course, the Presidents pet
legislation thus far has been the
social security legislation; and he
stressed that in writing to minis
ters. The President would like to
see. the full import and purport
Of that social security plan, with
its old age pensions, unemploy.
ment funds, aid to children, sick.
blind, ETC., explained and made
politically creditable.
But in writing to ministers he
took the chance of addressing
that rabid, unforgiving army Of
midwest and Southern Protestant
drys who believe that the Roose-
Velt administration betrayed the
country to the rum interests with
repeal. That section of the clergy
will berate the President for re-
peal, for the liquor policies of the
Government and for serving beer
at the White House. The Presi-
dent asked their advice on social
security and PWA, but he is GET
ting, it is said, lot of advice on
the liquor subject.
One old-time dry, well remem-
bered as an anti-Saloon leader
who went to Jail in New York
State, is reported as having taken
the occasion to arise in a meet
ing in Ridgway, Pa. to charge
that President Roosevelt is join
ing Alfred E. Smith, John j.
Raskob and others in leading the
Government to the Roman Cath
olic faith. This happened last
week: Q vicious Ku Klux Klan
type Of hySteria which did not get
into the papers but which was
reported here by word of mouth
from prominent people in the
neighborhood where the attack
was made.