Evening star., 1935-03-04

President Roosevelt smilingly, but
firmly, resisted the opportunities of
mis- White House press conference to
comment on this second anniversary
of his accession to the White House.
He branded as utterly without foun-
dation the suggestion that he might
seize the occasion for a fireside broad
cast reviewing the New Deal from
March 4, 1888, to date. F. D. r. is
apparently much more deeply con-
cerned with the affairs of the en-
battled present than with a reminis-
cent look backward. Rooseveltians
greet the advent of their third year
with composure and confidence, de-
spite the storm clouds that darken
administration skies in so many di-
rections. They insist, invoking the
title Of the Presidents book, that,
despite all the vicissitudes and vex-
ations of the moment, we are ION our
way" and that recovery progress
henceforward will more than keep
pace with the previous rate. Unem-
ployment is the foe on which the
President has ordered the Govern
ment's fire to be concentrated with
out interruption, as the depression en-
tiers upon the last half of its sixth
year. He recognizes that jobless and
relief rolls are the weather vanes of
the times, and until they register
marked improvement 1t will be diff
ficult to contend that prosperity is In
sight.
y X y X
This month-the exact date is st.
Patrick's day, March l7-marks an
other Washington anniversary for
Mr.. Roosevelt, for 1t was on that date
in the year 1913 that he resigned as
a member of the New York State
Senate to become Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy in the first Wilson ad-
nlinistration. On March II, next, too,
the President and the First Lady will
celebrate their 30th wedding ami
versary. MI. Roosevelt ernbarks upon
another IL months of executive re-
sponsibility, according to those closest
to him, in even sturdier shape than
when he took Office. The secret OF
his well-being is smiling, worry
proof temperament, rnethodical hard
work and a maximum of exercise In
the swimming pool.
II Il n +
Few Federal oficials ever were
handed better report" than Frank
Murphy, Governor General OF the
Philippines, received at the hands Of
President Roosevelt the other day. It
was evoked by q newspaper mans
question whether Murphy's presence
in washington at this time means
that he is slated for another Federal
post. The President retorted that
nothing of the sort Is contemplated,
because the Governor General Is doing
q star Job at Manila. He has at
tended to matters out there with such
complete success and fidelity that the
White House hasn't had to bother its
head about a single one of them.
Gov. Gen. Murphy's feat in balancing
the Philippines budget is emphasized
by the President. in accents OF genuine
envy, as something that rings the
former Detroit mayors record with q
particularly brilliant halo.
4 y \ II
Word comes down from New York
that certain domestic manufacturing
groups are planning to renew their
drive IN Congress for Senate review
Of reciprocal trade agreements. Their
reported purpose Is to bring about
amendment Of the reciprocal tarin
authorization. whereby the President
may negotiate reciprocity treaties on
his own responsibility, and make it
necessary for the Senate to approve
them before they become effective.
Domestic producers, It Is understood.
will argue that Congress should b
given an opportunity to pass upon