Evening star., 1936-03-07

Pleas for Help Bal.
anced by Offers of
Plain Counsel.

Uncle Sam, through the President,
would provide her with artificial
molars. There are so stanzas to her
appeal, including these:
"You have given me wood. clothes and
foodstuff,
Wrapped and canned:
Now please donate me set of teeth.
The power is in your hands.
Dear President. when you receive
this message
You will be surprised I am sure.
Don't turn me away, for Jesus sake;
You have thousands of dollars more.
"Now, Mr.. Roosevelt. just a few final
words:
Tell me yes with q check.
And pray the Lord with all my heart
The train it's on don't get wrecked" /"
Many communications are deeply
religious in sentiment, pious in phrase
ology. The writers testify that they
pray for the President regularly, be-
speaking heavens blessing on his ef-
forts for the poor and oppressed.
Some copy out for Mr.. Roosevelt long
Bible quotations which they believe
will help him in his arduous task.
Others transcribe for him lengthy
passages from the messages and
speeches of his predecessors in office
which they think he might cite with
advantage.
Literally thousands Of letters are
advisory in character. In the theory
of the authors the President desires
and can use the counsel Of brains
better than his own. Yet few, indeed,
are those who claim superior intel
ligence. Every word Of their screeds
is presumptuous, but they do not seem
to be conscious of their impudence.
Rather, the tone in which they write is
friendly. Formal answers, however,
are apt to bring back replies which
are less tolerant and kindly. Thus a
Minnesota individual, who describes
himself as an expert on finance" de-
clares: IF you had been willing TO
listen to me last year, I would not
have to bother you now"
ON THE other hand, there are nu-
" merous communications from
people who modestly confess them
selves unable to cope with their prob
lens and who throw themselves COM
pletely on the mercy of Mr.. Roosevelt.
please tell me what to do" Is the ap-
peal of thousands Of men and women
who want guidance in their trouble.
The effect of publicity is markedly
evident. For example, the President
arranges for q tenant farmer to obtain
a mule to assist in his cultivation OF .
corn field. Instantly there is q flood
of pleas for donkeys. Il see how you
have give q Mississippi man q mule,
is the standard preamble. so kindiy
send me one, too, and oblige.
Seasonal variations also nnuence
Mr., Roosevelt's unknown friends. In
Winter, they ask for coal: in Summer
they complain about the heat. "A
woman in Tennessee suggests: "Why
don't you have G. G. G. camps Tor
girls, so we could get q vacation IN
the country?"
Most correspondents receive ac-
knowledgments Of their letters. But
few are signed by the President per-
sonally. Marvin H. Mcintyre and
Stephen Early do the greater part OF
the work. And no one need envy
them the job. They burn the midnight
electricity with consistent regularity
In their endeavor to maintain the con-
tact with the plain people of the land
which Mr.. Roosevelt has cultivated for
years. It is . matter Of sober truth
that the President does want to hear
rom the country; he is entirely sincere
in his wish to keep in touch with
what they are thinking and saying.
Only the relentless pressure of omcial
business prevents him from giving his
L. ~