Evening star., 1938-12-25
Quotations Indicate Roosevelt
Draws on Strategy of Teddy
Republican Kinsman Apparently Fed Flame of
Daring and of Liberal Fervor That
Burn in White House
Bv Kirke l.. Simpson,
Associated Press Stan Writer.


Throughout the nearly six years Frank
lin D. Roosevelt has held the presidency
feeling that he personifies cause for
which four Presidents before him fought
in turn.
1t is to the writings and sayings of
those four decessors-Jefferson jack
son, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt
that Franklin Roosevelt frequently turns
to illustrate the objectives of his admin
istration They represent to him four
critical cycles in American political and
social evolution, and his own New Deal
a fifth.
Increasingly as another presidential
election nears, it is the Theodore Roose-
welt parallel that seems to attract his
attention. And from that circumstance
political Washington augurs that it is
from Theodore Roosevelt, his distant
kinsman, that he may be expected to
borrow strategy and tactics as the fight
to preserve and perpetuate achievements
of his own administration proceeds.
Impressed BY First Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt's personality made
a powerful impact on young Franklin
Roosevelt in the days of the first Roose-
velt's administration. That has been
clear for almost the hour Franklin
Roosevelt took over the White House.
Within three months of his Inaugural
ton in 1888, the Democratic President
Roosevelt cited precept by Teddy. His
second f1reside chat with the Nation had
this keynote:
Theodore Roosevelt once said to me ::
If can be right IS per cent of the time
I shall come up to the fullest measure
Of my hopes.
And in his North Carolina address of
this month, referring directly to the Re-
publican election sweep in November, 1t
was to Theodore Roosevelt, his writings,
that Franklin turned to find a message
for himself and his New Deal supporters.
He referred to a 1908 letter written by
his kinsman and said:
1T seems to me that what he said in
effect was, first, that the American peo-
pie have and must have definite OBJ
! jective for the improvement of Govern
ment, for the improvement of social and
economic conditions; second, that these
objectives must be carried out by definite
action, and third, that the attaining of
them, the President and the Govern
ment and the people as a whole must
have two essential qualities-first a
Nf ND
second, good will and sense of humor.'
Battle Atmosphere Seen Set.
| Here close observers find definite
clue to the mood in which President
Roosevelt is preparing for the inter
party and intra party struggle of the
next Congress, out of which will come
| not only the crystallized issues of the
1910 campaigns, but probably the rival
| candidates. for President.
The 1908 letter was written in the
| spring of that presidential year, which
saw THEODORE Roosevelt force on Re-
publican convention the nomination OF
| William Howard Taft ss his successor
Ahead Of Franklin Roosevelt within 2
year and half or less lies a decision
as to his own course in 1910, whether
he shall seek q third term nomination
himself or follow in Theodore Roosevelt's
footsteps and attempt to name man
of his own choice and philosophy.
Theodore Roosevelt disclosed, fairly
early in his last term, his intention not
to run again. If not publicly declared
that decision was implicit in his groom
ing of Taft over period of years fol
succession at the White House
Franklin Roosevelt has studiously
avoided that THEODORE Roosevelt policy
His third-term intentions are known tc
none; his choice for successor Is MOI
indicated by any word or act. In this
he has taken a Theodore Roosevelt
example as an indicator of what not
to do. He has kept in his own hands the
third-term threat that is his most power
full weapon of party leadership and in.
f1uence in Congress and in the maneuver.
ing for the Democratic nominating con.
vention of 1910.
Quotes Progressive Declaration.
In laying the cornerstone for the
Roosevelt Memorial wing of the Amer.
ican Museum of Natural History in New
York in January of 1886, Franklin Roose.
welt drew from Theodore Roosevelt's Ut
terances motto for his own nationa
leadership. He quoted Theodore Roose'
velt's cracking declaration that "A grea'
Democracy must be progressive or it vii
soon cease to be great or Democracy.
1T is his warning to us Of this day ane
generation" the President added, "tha
eternal progress is still the price O
liberty"
Later, the spring of that presidential
year, President Roosevelt laid the cor
nerstone of the new wing of the Interio
Department here in Washington ant
again it was to Theodore Roosevelt h
turned for inspiration concerning tn
need for Government outstanding o
natural resources. The first Presiden
Roosevelt, he said, Rose up and battles
against squandering of our patrimony.
and he added:
| nvy> e.. 49, x{,ea Ia ,aaey,1