The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1936-11-21
Mr.. RooseveIt's New Duties
thew York Tines

thew York Times
President Roosevelt asked the country for a vote
Of confidence. He has received it, pressed down and
running The sweep of his victory crosses sec
tional lines. 1t ranges under the Democratic banner
many States which are normally regarded Repub-
Lean 1t leaves no doubt of the Presidents great
personal popularity large majority of the American
electorate has now looked at the of the last
four years and found in it evidence which warrants
vote of confidence
Even in these first hours of triumph the President
must ask himself what is the true significance of the
great victory he has won Plainly if the result is
judged in the light his own appeal to the electorate
this victory is endorsement of broad principles he
las followed In the past rather than of specific meas
lUes ne now advocates. The votes which have re-
elected Mr. Roosevelt votes cast by large numbers
OF people who believe that his administration has
helped greatly TO restore hope to equaze opportun-
n.y. to prevent the excuses of the past and to
conserve American institutions by adapting them to
changing times. All this the Presidents victory
means 1t does rot mean that he has been given an
ofder or authority to proceed along the line of A
highly centralized government or new and radical
policies The people who have reelected him have
simply been placing in his hands national trust to
be discharged
No doubts that there was a great measure of
admiration for Mr. Roosevelt in the vote given him
on November 8. No one can deny him praise for the
courage and resolution with which he took up the
work of the Presidency three and one-haf years ago
1t was time OF acute national crisis and he faced
1t without tremor and with skill What he did was
but the way in which he did it was of
more value in restoring and bracng the morale of the
American people. They have not forgotten these
things and are still grateful for them Nor have they
forgotten other things for which they had to forgive
the President even while voting for him. Too often
as in his last campaign speech on Saturday night he
mas lmpiSvey used words that cold chils to run
Gown the backs OF his friends and supporters They
Go not like to hear the President of the United States
oeclare Vehemently that he welcomes the hatred of
any group Of citizens, whoever they NAV be Nor
90 they IKE TO hear him threaten to subject them in
the future TO himself to master" Americans
call no man master. They admit the supremacy of
the law over them which is perhaps all that the Presi
Gent meant and certainly all that he should have
said 1t may be that his last-minute plea on Mon
cay night to take bitterness out of politics intended
IN part TO still and soften his previous explosive ut
erance.
Indeed, the natural and patriotic course which
lies before Mr.. Roosevelt in his second term seems
plain He facing his last four years as President
In them there is still to be done great work of repair
and restoEatio Ge spirit required Isl that NOT of the
leveler bat the builder What be more congenial
to MI. Roosevelts character than a desire to leave
behind him record of national unifyng and strength
enlns? The opportunity before him is vast and
tempting The forces at his disposal ample. After
taxing anew his oath of office he proceed quietly
and steadily to administer his great trust with all
fidelity, and in way to secure the adhesion and CO.
operation OF all sorts and conditions of the people
Such official conduct seems clearly dictated by the
position in which the President now finds himself
ana TO De what American citizens in their totality
desire from him To meet successfully the conditions
which will still confront him President Roosevelt will
heeo flowing together of minds, North and South
East and West This he may have if he now, exhibits
statesmanke poise and spirit of devotion to the
good OF the whole people. Their vote of confidence
on Tuesday carries with it the hope that he NAV prove
TO be master-buder for still damaged and troubled
America.
New occasions teach new duties" The country
VIII expect President Roosevelt to act upon the prn
clpe IN that lime from poem famous in its dav
which was written by American who all his life
was truly Liberal