Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1940-12-26
Politics
Enters Drive
On Paralysis
Claims Roosevelt Haters
Refuse to Lend Aid
BY HUGH S. JOHNSON

BY HUGH S. JOHNSON
THE annual drive for funds
to fight infantile paralysis is
about to begin. 1t eliminates in
Presidents Birthday Balls in
all parts of the country. Having
conducted this effort in New
York City two years ago, l have
been asked to help again in a
small way.
1t takes some repetition to
make this project clear. but
having seen at close range some
of the sales resistance" to this
worthy purpose; l think the
repetition is justified. because
most of that resistance is due TO
error or unwarranted prejudice.
lnfantile paralysis is one of
the few remaining ravages of
the human race which medical
science hasn't yet tracked to its
lair. Great good has been done
If the disease is diagnosed
quickly enough. there are meth
DDS to prevent its ravages from
leaving little children with
twisted tortured. and sometimes
useless limbs and bodies. There
are many cases OF complete
cure.
THESE benefits and cures
i take long and expensive
treatment, with special costly
equipment which is not yet
available at all in some COM
munities For these reasons. the
disease bears most heavily on
the children of the poor. who
have even more need to be
sound of limb than others more
fortunate.
For these reasons also. il is 10
the interest of the whole com
munity that gifts in this drive
be generous; first, for the fight
TO learn how TO prevent this
plague. and second. in the mean
time to soften or avoid its Grip
> ping effects.
One of the greatest reSistanccs
I found was among the Roose-
welt haters. They said that the
drive is presidential publicity
stunt. that it is political and
even venal, that the President
has some financial interest in
the Warm Springs Hospital,
that too much of the money goes
there and that there is never
any adequate accounting of re-
celnfs and disbursements
This is pretty dirty pool. In
fantile paralysis strikes regard
less of politics. The President
was at first very reluctant 10
have his name used at all. He
did so only when convinced OF
the great good il would do
He has never made virtue
out Of his infrmity except as
his courageous, cheerful con-
quest Of il 10 such great deeds
has been a light TO all who SIT
in darkness. and as great an en-
enlargement of all the suffering
and handicapped as any example
ever set by any man.
4 S TO the rest of these Sian
"A derS. had occasion care
fully TO investigate every one of
them They simply are not true.
The money is collected and dis
burSed under the guidance and
on the responsibility of a foun-
dation composed of distinguished
citizens of both parties
II is distributed after careful
study under the most expert
medical advice with absolute
fairness. where the need is great
est and where II will do the
most good in research, proven
tion and treatment.
Warm Springs is only one of
many centers for this work
Apart from sentiment. the Prcsi-
dent has no interest and Warm
Springs Is not favored above
others.
Half Of all contributions are
distributed directly in the locali-
ties from which they come Most
of them get much more than
that by sharing in the other half
and all benefit by the good work
in the country al large
INFANTILE paralysis. being
Il an obscure disease of terrible
but not general incidence. the
fight against it does not receive
as much support from public
funds. endowments and popular
SuhScTiption used against some
other plaques that affect more
people. sometimes less terribly.
If the President had not Spon-
sorcd this annual effort. thou
sands more lives would have
been darkened not 10 mention
what we hope. through research.
to do for future generations
through this enterprise.
These false resiStanceS have
not prevented generous contri-
buttons. but their erasure should
greatly increase the needed aid.
Let's forget all small meanneSs
in this gracious season and deal
generously with those who need
help most.