The Washington times., 1937-03-05
NOW KEYNOTE
OF FIGHTING
CHALLENGE

The complete teTt OF PreSi.
dent RooSeDelt'S address before
the $100-d-pldte Democratic Vic.
tory dinner here last night
tolloUS!
On this 4th of March, 1897, il
millions of homes, the thoughts o.
American families are revertinG
to the March 4 of another year
That day in 1888 represented the
death of one era and the birth Of
another.
At that time we faced and met
a grave national crisis. Now we
face another crisis-of a different
kind but fundamentally even more
grave than that of four years ago
Tonight I want to begin with
you a discussion of that crisis.
I shall continue that discussion
on Tuesday night in a nation
wide broadcast and thereafter,
from time to time, as may be
necessary. For I propose to fol-
low my custom of speaking
frankly to the nation concern
ing our common problems.
I speak at this victory dinner
not only as the head of the
Democratic party but as the rep
resentative of all Americans who
have faith in political and eco
nomic democracy.
Voice of ~ Millions
Our victory was not sec.
tional. It did not come from
compromises and bargains. It
was the voice of twenty-seven
million voterS-from every part
Of the land.
The Democratic party, once
q minority party, is today the
majority party by the greatest
majority any party ever had.
1t will remain the majority
party so long as it continues
to justify the faith of millions
who had almost lost faith-So
long as it continues to make
modern democracy work-So
long and no longer.
We are celebrating the 1886
victory. That was not final
victory. 1t was victory
whereby our party won further
opportunity to lead in the So
luton of the pressing problems
that perplex our generation.
Whether we shall celebrate
In 1888, 1910 and 1914, as we
celebrate tonight. will deserved
" depend upon whether the
party continues on its course
and solves those problems.
And if I have aught to say
it will continue on its course
and it will solve those prob
lens.
Supporters Uneasy
After election day in 1896,
some Of our supporters were
uneasy lest we grasp the ex-
cuse Of a false era of good
feeling to evade our obliga-
tions. They were worried by
the evil symptom that the
propaganda and the epithetS
of last summer and fall had
died down.
Today, however, those who
placed their confidence in us are
reassured. For the tumult and
the shouting have broken forth
anew and from substantially the
same elements of opposition.
This new roar is the best evil
dence in the world that we have
begun to keep our promises, that
we have begun to move against
conditions under which one
third of this nation is still i'll
nourished, ill-clad, ill-housed.
Fight Just Begun
We gave warning last Novem-
ber that we had only just begun
to fight. Did some people really
believe we did not mean it?
WE'LL m cant it, and you
meant it.
A few days ago. a distin-
guished member of the Congress
came to see me to talk about ma
tional problems in general and
about the problem Of the judi
ciary in particular.
I said to him:
"John, 1 want to tell you some
thing that is very personal to
me-something that you have q
right to hear from my own lips.
I have a great ambition in life.
Ambition Explained
My friend pricked up his ears.
I went on:
II am by no means satisfied
with having twice been elected
President of the United States
by very large majorities. l have
an even greater ambition"
BY this time, my friend was
sitting on the edge of his chair.
I continued:
"John, my ambition relates to
January 20, 1941."
could feel Just what horrid
thoughts my friend was think
ing. So in order to relieve his
anxiety, went on to say:
His Plan for Nation
"My great ambition on Jan.
nary 20, 1941, is to turn over
this desk and chair in the White
House to my successor, whoever
he may be, with the assurance