The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-23

Jimmy was determined to get a
divorce and the Presidents poll
teal future did not enter into the
picture. Jimmy, 1t will be re-
membered, has not been too con-
Siderate about his fathers poll
tical situation in the past, and
he was not this time. The PreSi-
dent made no effort to stop him,
and probably could not have done
so had he tried.
Only person who consistently
opposed the divorce was Jimmy's
wife, Betsey Gushing Roosevelt.
Although she and her husband had
made no great pretense Of liy-
ing together for several years, she
was anxious not to embarass her
father-in-law by an outright di-
vOrce.
Betsey Roosevelt. Is one Of the
Presidents favorites. In fact
friends Of the family say he is
almost more fond of her than
some of his own children. She
accompanied him on his coast
forecast campaign trip in 1882,
and for a long time lived at the
White House with her children.
Betsey was willing to wait an .
indefinite length of time, even an
other four years, in order not to
inject an issue which might hurt
the President. That was why
she so consistently denied rumors
of a break, even when Jimmy no
longer denied them. -" II
PLANNED DIVORCE IN 1888
Only intimates Of the Roose-
welt family know 1t, but Jimmy
first determined to get divorce
after he left the Mayo clinic in
Rochester, Mimi, in November,
1888, where he first met pretty
nurse Romelle Schneider. Only
some fast and persuasive talking
on the part of Harry Hopkins and
other intimates stopped him from
making the break then.
NOTE-Of the two other divorces
in the Roosevelt family, Elliott re-
fused to wait, and apparently had
no regard for the effect upon
his fathers political situation. FL
lott was divorced during the heat
of the 1932-1933. crisis. Anna
Roosevelt, although estranged
from Curtis Dali for several years,
waited a considerable length Of
time until the repercusions from
Elliott's misalliance had subsidized.
EDITORS NOTE-Watch the /,
Merry Co. Round next week for
an answer to the big question.
mark: VIII Roosevelt run for
a Third Term? (
CAPITAL CHAFF
Oregon political leaders think
Tom Dewey left. the Northwest
with less prestige than he had on
arrival -. Bob Taft has hired
Forrest Davis, one Of the. best
publicity men In the business. Gle
needs him) Chief Justice
Hughes suggested to new Justice
Frank Murphy that it would be
good idea for him to get fully
rested and recuperate from a cold
before assuming full duties on the
Supreme Court Republican
Judge Walter B. Wanamaker Of
the Common Pleas, court Of Ohio
is being urged by friends t .orun
for the Senate against Vic Dom 4
ahey, the incumbent Says
Mrs. Cordell Hull: my, husband
will discharge anyone whom he
finds is giving these State Depart
ment secrets to the Merry Co
Round" /
JAPANESE MENACE 4
Although European troubles hog
the headlines, what is worrying
the President and Cordell Hull
most today is the danger OF Jap
eneSe aggression in the Far East.
No one is saying SO, but secret
consideration has been given to
sending the United States fleet to
the Philippines to be ready for .
emergencies. 4
The situation bOiIs down 70 Z
this: U. s. Far Eastern policy,
generally recognized as wise,
and certainly subject to little Z
criticism from the American
public, may have backfired. IL
may have put the Japanese mill
tary in such q desperate ,posi-
tiOn that they will adopt even
more desperate measures. 3
What the japanese military are
arguing is that with the denunci-
alton Of the U. S.-Japanese trade
treaty, the Upited States might
break off trade relations ct any
time. This would leave Japan
In 9 serious predicafnent. Most