Evening star., 1937-11-29

II tnere was ever any OOuDC OF PreSl-
dent Roosevelt's 100 per cent recovery
from his late bout with the dentist, he
dispelled it at his first regular post
extraction press conference on Friday.
His starboard jowl, described only few
days previous as rivaling the dimensions
of a grapefruit, was back to normalcy
and wreathed in the billion-dollar presi-
Dental smile, as F. D. r. quipped and
quirked with $50 newshawks bursting
with questions on almost all subjects
under the New Deal sun. In every way
Richard seemed himself again, and he
started for the Southern fishing grounds
Saturday night in old-time holiday trim.
Mr.. Roosevelt assured farewell callers
at the executive offices that he expects
to return to the White House next week
as good as new or even better, espe-
cially as his recent enforced diet and
inactivity enabled him to drop consider
able ballast in the shape of superf1uous
avoirdupois. Wall Street rumors a few
days ago had the President in grave
physical shape. Like most stock market
tales, they were sheer bunk.
Il X
There was gentle but unmistakable
irony in the Presidents semi-serious
reply to questions about congressional
demands for immediate tax revision.
Indicating that such legislation is ex-
clusively the dish of House and Senate,
he intimated, with merry twinkle in
his eye, that the administration wouldn't
dream of rushing matters by sending
"undigested legislation" to the Hill, to
be passed by rubber stamp" Congress!
While it is thus sought to convey the
impression that the White House isn't
standing in the way of prompt relief
from burdensome business taxes, it is,
of course, everybody's secret that the
so-called leadership in both branches OF
Congress is generally responsive to
wishes or pressure from the other end
of Pennsylvania avenue, and moves or
stagnates according to the wind blow
ing from that direction. On the other
hand, Congress has the power, even
though 1t frequently lacks the will, to
override presidential preferences, If it
thinks these run counter to the national
good. Events should presently show
whether members possess the initiative
plus the intestinal investiture to exercise
their vaunted prerogative at this witch
ing hour.
Here's the brand newest scheme for
balancing the budget. It's suggested that
every time somebody damns Roosevelt up
hill and down dale, fine of five dollars
should be assessed. Estimates, doubtless
Of economic royalist origin, are that
Mr.. Morgenthau would climb out of
the red in twenty hours, If the
culprits could be rounded up and duly
mulcted.
Emil Ludwig, distinguished European
biographer, has just revisited Washing
ton on his final X-ray of Mr.. Roosevelt
for the new life" of the President, which
Ludwig will now proceed to finish at
his home in Switzerland. It is being
written in German and translated into
English for American publication next
fall This observer asked DR.. Ludwig
what he's going to say about Roosevelt
and third term. II never discussed it
with the President" was the reply,
"but shall venture private opinion,
It is to the effect that if the next World
War, which I expect will break out
any time during the next three years,
is raging in 1910, the American people
will demand that Mr.. Roosevelt be re-
nominated and reelected as the one
man capable OF steering the United
States through that perilous period,
whether your country is in the war or
not"
It's inst been disclosed that for the