The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-24
Hamilton In Initial Campaign
Address Critiiciizes Roosevelt
Makes Claim That His Ac-
tivities In Some Cases
Was Simply Matter OF
"Playing Politics"
By PRESTON GROVER
fIIy ASSOpIafad Isrc.SN

WASHINGTON, July 24.-In
his Chicago speech opening the
midwest campaign for AIf M.
Landon, red-haired John D. M.
Hamilton criticized President
Roosevelt for making no conf
dence inspiring statement between
the time of his election in 1892
and his Inauguration in March of
1888.
Mr.. Roosevelt's failure to do
this was laid by Hamilton to a dis
position on the part of the then
President-elect to "risk a COM
plete collapse" of the country in
the last period OF the Hoover adj
ministration in order to gain Gre
dit for dramatic upturn (which
he knew was inevitable, as soon as
the situation Of divided powers
was brought to an end by his own
inauguration"
Strategy Questioned
Hamilton went on to assert
that the fear of fear about
which Mr.. Roosevelt speaks was
sin large measure created by his
own willingness to play politics in
the face Of national disaster"
Not all Republicans are certain
the new Republican national chair
man is wise in inviting a COMPARE
son between Hoover's final months
Notice aud the first months of.
Mr.. Roosevelt's term.
There are many Republicans
who do not seem eager to defend
some phases of the Hoover regime.
They know that the IL Repub-
lican years after Wilson will be
subjected to Democratic attack.
They already have been.
Roosevelt Seen Issue
Instead, these Republicans have
hoped for a political strategy con-
sisting largely of attack on the
New Deal. 1t was their idea that
after all the people were going to
vote on whether or not they liked
Mr.. Roosevelt and his doings, not
on whether they liked Mr.. Lam
don.
Hamilton is an aggressive cam
paigner. 1t may be he likes war
on all fronts and is ready to car
ry forward defense of the Hoo
yer administration even before the
Democrats get we'll under way in
their attack.
The Republican national con-
vention early presented evidence
that what this country needs is a
new and more emphatic phrasing
for the statement Il do not choose
to rum"
When the late President Coo,
lidge employed that wording he
left the country-and particu-
larly its politicians-agitated and
perplexed for months over his in
tentions. To band-wagon-minded
political figures such doubt cons
titutes third degree cruelty.
Even now there is dispute
among historians as to whether
he wanted out" OF wanted to be
drafted.
Disregard Statements
Only a matter of hours before
the Cleveland convention opened,
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan
stated in positive language that
he did not wish the vice presiden-
tial nomination. Yet to degree
the boom to put man to Governor
Landon continued.
Former President Hoover earl
Ter told the country he was not
interested in the nomination for
himself. Yet flying rumors that he
planned a convention raid" for
the nomination swept wide field.
Especially was this true after he
paused at Ogden, Utah, to de-
clare for a plank demanding of
wages and hours, even to the ex-
tent of a constitutional amend
ment.
Years ago a model was set up
by a disclaimant to this effect:
Il Do not want the office. If
nominated l will not run. If elect
ed will not serve"