The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-12
Observations
United States to
Face Most Perilous
Time Soon
BY Helen Esssry

II seems incredible TO me that
ANY man should actually WANT 10
be President OF the United States
during the next four years. The
long. fearsome days that lie ahead
until the wal is ended may be the
most perilous In the history OF the
republic.
Only a president OF superhuman
wisdom could survive the pitfalls
and mistakes such dangerous re-
spousibility is sure to bring. Who
ever is in the White House at the
end of 1915 will be a discredlted
man. II wilt be-ifaPessfb+e for any
human being 10 guide the nation
through the remainder OF the war
unless the war ends in a world
satisfying yictory-and not come
through the ordeal a victim, not a
hero.
Even though postwar plans
eventually may fall into the perfect
pattern of a made-to-order jig-saw
puzzle, there will be the ordeal
OF first finding the missing pieces
10 make the perfection whole. Be-
ing president from l945 to l949 is
a job at which no n can sue
coed.
II | were Governor Dewey Id not
have the nomination on a radar
platter. And If were Mr.. Roosevelt
Id move out of 1900 Pennsylvania
Avenue as fast as | could get the
moving vans backed up with rea-
sonable dignity. Then Id be cer-
tain of having a glorious place in
history. Staying on for a fourth
term is an honor weakened by the
certainty of ultimate failure.
Yet, ! am convinced that Frank
lin Roosevelt does. indeed, mean
10 run again. II I had had any
doubts-which | have not had
should have changed my opinion
10 a certainty on listening to Mrs.
Roosevelt tell OF the number and
variety of speeches she will make
within the next week or so.
Mrs. Roosevelt will address many
kinds OF audiences. She is un-
doubtedly campaigning for her
husband.
NET mr.. SAM RAYBURN.
speaker OF the House, on the Capt.
toll steps. Mr.. Sam mentioned"
more than a hundred times for the
vice presidential ticket, was look
ing mighty pert.
And. now what have you been
doing?' | inquired.
Just taking a little summing
from a bench in the Capitol park"
he answered. Trying to make my
self feel young again. No. No,
You're wrong. Miss! I'm not plan
ming one single thing except how
10 get myself elected again from
the Fourth congressional district
in Texas"
WHOEVER THE MIDAS
AMONG PROPHETS was who
promised a heaven OF golden streets
10 those who avoided sin was a
fellow OF small Imagination. He
should have promised a heaven Of
Washington in May" as a reward
for good behavior.
For who wouldn't rather walk
softly on thick, green turf (there
is some OF II in the parks and
much OF it in the many private
estates and gardens which Turk
about the capital) than clutter
about on solid metal sidewalks,
whatever their color? Especially
now since rubber heels aren't what
they used TO be.
In addition to the refreshing
grass OF Washington there are the
hundreds OF thousands OF trees
leafing out in canopies and vistas
on virtually every city street. And
the dogwood and the azaleas are
b%lossoming in a frenzy OF color.
SECRETARY OF AGRICUL-
TURE CLAUD WICKARD is very
enthusiastic about the look OF
Washington in May. This atti-
tude is quite fitting for the head
OF the department Of agriculture.
saw Wickard taking color pic.
lures at which task he is an ex-
pert the other afternoon in the
SdiAfn dI Tue lovely
estate on Macomb St. OF former
Ambassador to Russia and Mrs.
Joseph E. Davies. Tregaron's gar.
den wanders along paths in and
out OF little wooded groves and be-
side pools. II is so beautiful you
are certain it isn't real.
Mention OF Mrs. Davies reminds
me that Secretary OF Commerce
Jesse Jones has written an intro
duction to the story OF Mrs. Davies
father, for whom a town in Texas
was named Post, Texas.
Post developed several counties
in the Panhandle state. The rec
ord of his achievements there is
told in the book just about to be
published.
There's much talk. by the way, OF
Davies re-entry into diplomacy by
an exciting and still unnamed