The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-08-19

when he desires, and ! can say with
out equivocation that he has kept 1t
in this case. The Washington CORE
spondent or observer usually can
get tip-off as to the presidential
mind In ordinary matters, but not
so regarding the third term.
Thus, having made reassuring
statement that this is only a guess
as to the future, ! shall try to put
the puzzle sections together and
make a prediction. There are many,
many factors to be examined. With
out them, there can be no judgment
as to the circumstance. With them
in full view, certain conclusions APP
pear unacceptable. Note that ! said
"appear. / use that word for the
reason that Mr.. Roosevelt is one Of
the few men ever to occupy the
White House whose whole attitude
may change completely overnight
on any given subject.
Mr.. Roosevelt Revels
In the Presidency
Mr.. Roosevelt has a consuming
desire to 60 down in history as
great President. There can be no
doubt Of that. He wants history to
show him as an outstanding friend
of the people, the masses. He will
let nothing prevent him from that
course if it is within his power.
If there is one trait in the makeup
of the man that transcends others, I
believe it is his desire to establish
new precedents. We speak Of him
as precedent-breaker. That is in
correct. He likes to make new ones.
No other President has ever done
more than make motions about
third term. Mr.. Roosevelt would
not be disturbed by the fact that
never before had any President &C.
cupied the White House for IL years.
suspect that he would enjoy do
ing that sort of thing.
And when mention enjoyment, /
need to refer at the same time to
the very well known fact that Mr..
Roosevelt enjoys being President.
That is, he has what we say is a
"good time" on the job. There is no
real WEAKNESS for him as Chief Ex-
ecutive. Within the range Of my
quarter of century as an observ-
er, there has been no other Presi-
dent who so reveled under the gen.
orally accepted tremendous burden
of the presidency.
Presidents Popularity
Has Religious Ferr0r
Behind the scenes, no President
has ever had q hallelujah chorus Of
so many voices around him. There
has never been a President with
such great personal popularity as
Mr.. Roosevelt. The combination Of
these things, the continual songs Of
praise that he hears from his close
advisors and the adoring multitudes
well, I firmly believe that no liv-
ing man can maintain the equilibri-
UNI necessary for sound and sane
thinking while such semi-religious
fervor toward him is shown.
Seldom, If ever before, has any
President had the same type Of pro-
noting theorists, starry eyed
dreamers around him. The country
never has had an administration as
radical as Mr.. Roosevelt's regime.
At no time have as many crack
pots, schemers, theorists with UNI
tried panaceas had chance to get
their plans put into action. Some
are workable; most Of them are
not. The fact that some have
worked, however, is the very reason
the whole crew sticks around and
keeps plugging for further trials Of
this, that or the other. For most
Of these folks, it is the first time in
public life, their first entry into ma
tional Office with authority. They
like it. Also, they like the payroll.
It is natural that they want to stay.