The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-04
ROOSEVELT'S FIERY SPEECH
ST|RS CONFLICTING VIEWS OF
NATIONS POLITICAL LEADERS
Nations Press Divided on
Merit of Address by
President.


Newspapers commented to-
day on President Roosevelt's
message to Congress as fol-
lows:
NEW YORK TIMES Ind. Dem.)
His defense of his own Admins
tration was, as had been indicated
in advance, challenge to his poll
tical enemies and a rallying sum-
mons to his supporters. But ne gave
first place and highest Importance
in his message to a discussion of
war and peace. He uses great
plainness of speech, which will not
please those who are active in those
forms of arbitrary government" to
which he refers. AS it has led to
war during the last three months,
Mr.. Roosevelt undertakes to define
exactly the purposes and plans of
American neutrality. It is evident
that the President hopes to make
the role of the United States still
more effective along those lines.
NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE
Ind. Rep)-His major defense of
his program is couched in the
language OF a William Jennings
Bryan-we almost said Huey Long
and it holds neither concrete pro-
posals nor definite facts. 1t was
simply a political harangue.
BALTIMORE SUN QndD-Of the
spirited candor with which the Presi-
dent denounced autocracy's threat to
peace, we think the American people
will be proud and grateful, and will
hope that it may give moral strength
and steadiness to those in other
lands who face the dangers of war.
Of the Presidents challenge to his
foes at home, there must certainly
be differences of opinion as to his
logic, but very few as to his dashing
generalship.
ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE = A curious and ex-
pectant nation-possibly this should
include the world-last night heard
President Roosevelt range from a
statement of peaceful deals that
vigorously expressed the sentiments
of the nation to plain political bum
comb that struck hollow keynote
for the assembling of Congress.
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Y nt 70
greSs, but a political harangue, ad-
dressed to the voters in behalf of
his personal reelection. Not the
message of a President, but the
stump speech of a candidate, def
nitely placing himself on the Left,
on the platform of war on business
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER
(Dem) - Mr.. Roosevelt utters a
pointed warning to the perils which
lie in the war-fearful countries
abroad, contrasting the peaceful as
poets of affairs in the western hem
isphere. No less pointed are his
references to the triumphs of his
recovery program, and to those
selfish interests which would sacri-
flee the victory.
INDIANAPOLIS STAR (Rep)-
He was plainly appealing to the ma
ton against what he apparently
considers to be a real threat to the
New Deal program inaugurated dur
ing his administration. The Presi-
dent may be justified in feeling
alarm for the continuance of his
program, but it does not necessarily
follow that the motives of those
who disagree with him are ques-
tionable.
ALBANY KNICKERBOCKER
PRESS-President Roosevelt's adj
dress must be deemed more fitting
TO the POLITICAL stump than to a
Presidents message.
the presidential message
was no medium for challenge to
his political enemies to do their
worst against his policies. The &C
cusation that the 'entrenched' in
terests have tried to gang up
against him would have been be-
coming to the Hastings, but hardly
does it fit into a state paper of our
nation.
BOSTON HERALD (Rep)-"Ex-
cept for the opening passages, which
were excellent, on foreign affairs
and neutrality, the message was the
most partisan and least presiden-
tial, the most rhetorical and vain
glorious and the least informative,
the most denunciatory and the least
constructive and stateSmanlike in
the peacetime history of the coun-
try"
BOSTON POST Ind. Dem.)-
=. Certain to win wide approval.
There was a very strong note of
confidence in it. 1t was the sort of
a speech that goes to the heart of
the listeners. 1t will help the
Presidents cause immensely. And
it will be difficult one for his Re-
publican opponents to answer eff
fectively."
LOS ANGELES ILLUSTRATED
DAILY NEWS DEM.) Here is
something for MeSsrs. Hoover,
Fletcher and other Old Guard
Dealers to chew on The Repub-
lican leaders in both Houses must
remember during the entire session
that the people are awaiting an
answer to the Presidents challenge.
They do not dare propose to tear
down the New Deal structure.
They have neither the means nor
the courage to pvt forth substi-
tute.