Evening star., 1938-09-02
ROOSEVELT TO CONTINUE
In FAVOR OF LIBERALS.'
EVEN IF REPUBLICAN
Asserts He Won't
Oppose Downey
inCalifOrnia.
BY !. RUSSELL YOUNG.


President Roosevelt made it plain
today that he is going to continue
campaigning for liberals" in politics
and declared If there is a good liberal
running on the Republican ticket, l
will not have the slightest objection
to his election
He made this statement at his press
conference. Liter, when the President
agreed to being quoted and had his
stenographer read h/ notes so there
could be no mistake about the words
he used, he added, The good of the
country rises above party."
This declaration of the President
was at once interpreted by newspaper
men as being the strongest indication
he has given thus far that he intends
to 20 ahead as a liberal and not neceS-
sa arily as a Democrat. In other words,
the President took this occasion to
serve notice on conservatives and re-
dictionaries. whether they be Republic
ans or Democrats, that he feels little
tie to them and that he intends to dl-
rect his own future political path more
AS liberal than as a party leader
solely.
Angry at Stories.
The President said further he is
convinced the American people are
more for principle than personalities.
The Presidents unexpected frank
ness was prompted by his anger at
stories in Detroit newspapers that he
had Cancelled a contemplated visit to
Michigan because his personal friend.
Gov. Murphy, is apt to be defeated in
his campaign for reelection and that
the President did not want to be con-
nected with or blamed for another
defeat
In response to questions about his
not going to the dedication Of the
international bridge at Port Huron.
Mich, Mr.. Roosevelt angrily retorted
that the newspaper accounts were
deliberate distortion of fact. He said
this could be quoted. adding sharply
that the Detroit newspapers might as
we'll get that
Asked if he would do anything to
help Gov. Murphy in his campaign as
he has helped other friends of the
administration. Mr.. Roosevelt replied
that he felt toward Gov. Murphy as
he felt toward other liberals.
International Situation.
It was then that he made his re-
marks about possible election OF lib
eral Republicans. He went on to
explain further that one of the rea-
sons why he could not go to Michigan
was that the international situation
has been what he described as diff
ficult' and because of that he thought
1t best not to go too far away.
The President was asked if his prln-
ciples of liberalism could apply to
California where Senator McAdoo, his
favored candidate, was overWhelm-
ingly defeated for the Democratic
nomination by ''super-liberal,' Sher-
idan Downey The President replied
Yes and then said he would explain
his position regarding California for
BACKGROUND purposes and not for
quotation.
He then went on to explain that
both Mr.. Downey and Culbert Olson,
who was nominated by Democrats for
Governor, we're both real liberals.
Without saying so directly the Presi-
dent made it plain that he would
favor the election of Mr. DoWney and
Mr.. Olson for this reason.
Believes Plan UnsOund.
Turning his attention to Mr.. DoWney,
who ran on a platform of providing
$30-a-week pension to every one over
so years of age, Mr.. Roosevelt said
he had always felt that that plan Is
unsound from a financial point Of
view
He explained further. however, that
1t is not a national, but a State plan,
and that if scheme of that kind is
adopted by State and is not viola
ton of the Federal Constitution, the
State has every right to try it out.
The Senate of the United States has
nothing to do with it, he added, al
though he was not asked directly if he
thought the proposal would ever reach
Congress.
Mr.. Roosevelt took occasion to relate
tSee ROOSEVELT, Page A-5)