The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-04-14
TUESDAY. APRIL IL. 1895.
ROOSEVELT AT BALTIMORE


A FTER reading what President Roosevelt said at
4 n Baltimore last night, vigorous critic of the
President rather grudgingly remarked: ut
great political speech" That was way of damning
with faint praise. But the critic spoke more truth
fully than he wished 1t great political speech
What made it SOP The President offered no
panaceas He made big claims of accomplish
ments. He drew no general indictment of his
mics He didn't even mention the name of political
party, utter partisan whoop. He did none
of those things usually associated with political
oratory.
But what it takes for political speechmakng in
common times does not ring the bell in these
common times And the President rang the bell
last night He did it by refrainng from shallow
partisan commonplace, and by turning his thoughts
and the thoughts of his audience, 10 those deeper
human concerns-to those problems which touch
the welfare and happiness of all of us, problems
which give rise to human fears and doubts,
problems upon whose solution depend our human
hopes and aspirations
T@HERE he Stood the head of government of hu-
Il man beings. Before gathering sponsored by
organization of young people, and through them
to the whole population, he talked of the simple
aspirations of youth:
g. An opportunity to make honest living
reasonable chance to improve your condition in
life you grow older; practical against
want and suffering in your old age; and with it all
the right to participate in the finer things of life
good health, clean amusement, and part in the
satisfactons of the arts, the sciences and religion"
And of what youth working for those detectives,
has a right to expect:
49,. That those in authority will do everything
in their power to help restore conditions that will
make employment and opportunity possible; more
than that, that you will be protected insofar as is
humanity possible, from the physical and mental and
spiritual ravages of economic and social maladjust-
ment."
These are not the words of man weary of
stewardship disappointed dsillusioned, desparful.
These the words of one who. despite three years
of disappointment and Illustration does not wrap
himself in a hairshirt.
VXTHEN there is vision the people perish, and
w without leadership that sounds the note of
hope, the spirit droops.
In days that still dark at time when such
problems unconquered unemployment continue to
bese us. such words these spell leadership, hope
and vision-all three:
81 for one, do not believe that the era of the
pioneer is at an end; only believe that the area
graphical pioneering is largely finished. But, my
friends the period of social pioneering is only at its
beginning And make mistake about 1.-THE
same qualities of herosm and faith and vision
that required to bring the forces of nature into
subsection will be required-in greater measure
to bring proper under control the forces of mod
ern society," There is task which-for Importance
and for magnitude-cas for the best that you and
have to offer.
"You ought to thank God tonight if, regardless
of your years, you young enough in spirit to
dream dreams and see visons-dreams and visions
about greater and finer America that is to be-
If you are young enough in spirit to believe that
poverty can be greatly lessened; that the disgrace
Of involuntary unemployment be wiped OUT
that class hatreds be done away with; that
peace at home and abroad be maintained; and
that one day a generation may possess this land,
blessed beyond anything we now know with those
things-material and spiritual-that make mans
life abundant If that is the fashion of your dream
ing I say: Hold fast to your dream. America
needs it."
That's why 1t was great political speech