Evening star., 1939-11-20
Third-Term Puzzle
Put 10 Fore Again
By Roosevelt Talk
President, However, FoiIs
To Give Clue in Laying
Hyde Park Library Stone
By the Associated Press.

~ SsN -sStSsy SASshS
By the Associated Press.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, Nov. CO.
Another wave of speculation over
President Roosevelt's political in
tentions rolled along today in the
wake of a speech in which he eX-
pressed the hope his collections and
papers would be ready for public
inspection and use" by the spring of
1941.
In a bantering mood yesterday at
the site of the library that will house
the private papers of his public life,
the President said he hoped my
good friends of the press" would give
due Interpretation to the express
sion of my hope that when we open
the building to the public it will be
fine day"
The remark was interpolated in
his address at the laying of the Ii
brary corner stone on the Roosevelt
estate and interpreted by most re-
porters as meaning the President
actually is enjoying all the hula
baloo over whether he will aim for
a third term.
Brings Puzzle to Fore.
The disclosure that the President S
correspondence would be available
to students, historians and bio
graphers by the middle of 1941 fur
nished no real clue to his inten-
tfons. 1t did serve, however, to
bring the third-term puzzle TO the
fore again by leading to conjecture
whether Mr.. Roosevelt would wish
the public to have access to records
of the New Deals intimate work.
ings, if he intended to seek re-elec-
ton next year.
Into copper box that fitted into
the cornerstone of the library, the
President tucked copies of news
papers which printed stories that
linked the third term and the 1941
opening date of the library.
Then he heard several speeches
and made one himself.
Among those who listened was
paul V. McNutt, Federal Security
administrator. The former Gov
ernor of Indiana, with strong, or
ganized backing in his home State,
has seen his name put forward for
the Democratic presidential nomi-
nation in 1940-if Mr.. Roosevelt does
not want it.
Mr.. McNutt was one of the indi-
viduals who subscribed to the $780,
600 cost of the library.
Others on Hand.
Mayors, industrialists, State and
national officials and persons prom
inent in society were on hand, too.
Mr.. Roosevelt recalled how he had
played as lad in the very field
where the Dutch Colonial Library
was rising-climbing trees, eating
strawberries from the plants, sailing
toy boats in water from melted
snow. and helping his dogs dig into
woodchuck holes.
Looking up from his manuscript
he remarked smilingly, Some of you
are standing right on top of those
holes at this minute
The descendants of the same
woodchucks inhabit the field he
said, and Il hope they will continue
to do so for all time"
This is peaceful countryside ("
the President said, "and it seems
appropriate that in this time of
strife we should dedicate this library
TO the spirit of peace-peace for the
United States and soon, we hope.
peace for the world"
Sees Letters As Important.
lie expressed the thought that. in
the future, those who seek to learn
the history of our time from con-
temporaneous documents will obtain
an intimate, accurate view of the
aspirations and purposes of all
types OF Americans who have been
living in these times.
He added, "of these papers which
VIII come to rest here, 1 personally
attach less Importance to the docu-
nients OF those who have occupied
nlgh public or private Office than
40 TO the spontaneous letters which
nave come to me and my family
and my associates from men. from
women and from children in every
part OF the United States, telling
me OF tnelr conditions and problems,
ana giving me their own opinions"
Inc library building will be a story
ana half structure of Dutch Colo
MAI design, executed in Dutchess
County field stone. One wing and
the central portion will be a museum
containing such things as the Presi-
cents collection of ship models and
naval prints, books and historical
material about Dutchess County.
Inc other wing will hold his 6.oO0,-
ooO papers amassed since he became
New York State Senator in 1910.
Luncheon Is Given,
Inc ceremonies were preceded nv
luncheon for a few neiphbors
friends and persons CLOSELY con-
hected with the library corporation.
Ihen there was reception for spe-
clal guests at the big stone and
stucco family home of the Roose-
velts.
The public was invited to the
cornerstone laying and to hear Mr..
Roosevelt speak. There we're ad-
dresses, too, by Frank c. Walker
treasurer of the Franklin D. Roose-
Velt LIBRARY, Inc. Archibald Mac
Leish, librarian of Congress, and
DR.. R. D. w. Connor, archivist of
the United States.
Mr.. Walker asserted that here. for
the first time in the Nations his
tory, the complete, unedited papers
OF Chief Executive will be pre-
sented to the people during his life
time.
He said he wondered if the Presi-
dent, in giving them to the people,