The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1936-12-10

The majority Of American presidents have been solemn
mediocrities. Franklin D. Roosevelt does not run true to
SHIRT yRs. LAKE ms COUSIN ins0o0's' = : refuses ? : = 'uDs'
When his enemies call him names, he calls them names
back. He is "vulgarly'' incapable of suppressing his charm,
vivacity and sense of humor in public. He enjoys the game
of politics and ad, tits it. He is stimulated by the roar of
crowds and shows il. He writes excellent English and speaks
it with a cultured accent. He says 'I' frequently in his
speeches. Like the first presidential Roosevelt he never pre-
tends to be humble.
His enemies profess to see in these "enormiies' the ego
tism Of a tempermental dictator who is plotting to become
an American Hitler. But the more one studies the extrava-
giant esteem accorded the president, his self-regard appears to
be remarkably well controlled. Consider the size of his vic
tory in 1890, his prodigious popularity when he took office,
the unprecedented powers granted him in the first session
Of congress and the vindication of his policies in the 1884
congressional election. These things alone would have turn
ed the head of a dangerously egotistical man..
And then came the 1886 triumph, the extent of which
was unexpected by the winner himself. But he accepted 1T
with a restraint that vanity of which Mr.. Roosevelt has been
accused.
In its current issue, Business Week says that the size and
distribution of his recent majority has, in fact, had a sober
ing effect upon the president, The Washington bureau of
that publication reports:
Roosevelt is still playing quarterback; he shows no
symptoms of assuming the role of dictator Reelected
by the simple faith of more than millions than have ever
voluntarily been given to one man, Roosevelt is happy. of
and selfconfident as usual, but more deliberate In speech
and action The few who have been in contact with the
president since his return quickly sense that he feels his re-
sponsbiity more keenly than at any time since he took office.
Some of Roosevelts critics in business did not spare any
means to cut him down during the campaign. In Washing
tons caIlous view, many of them deserved what they got, but
. some reason 10 DeleVe Inat instead o L working OIL u
grudge, the president will be more disposed to listen to the
suggestions and objections of business regarding his policies
and Methods
The foregoing. from a magazine for business men, does
not sound like a description OF a pernously ambitious leader.
No true Roosevelt can be credited with meekness, but it
must be granted that the chief reason Franklin Roosevelt
asked for "dictatorial' authority was the emergency nature
of the problems facing him in 1888. He spoke an unexagger-
ated truth when he said that frightened industriaists and
bankers implored him to take matters into his own hands and
begged for the NRA. Naturally, when the NRA broke down,
he was angered when they tried to place all the blame on him.
Business Week says that Mr.. Roosevelt is still unswerv-
ingly resolved to improve the welfare of workers and that
Madison Square Garden rules hold against those who oppose
this purpose. But though he is prepared to seek a centrali-
cation amendment it necessary he shows no signs of vindic-
tiveness.
Possessed of those 523 electoral votes, an inordinate ego
fist would not now be urging his defeated adversaries to speak
their minds. He would be ..giving them what for.'-Journal
Post. Kansas City.