The Wilmington morning star., 1945-09-24

crs His articles serve the good purpose
OF making people Think
ny wEsTBROOK PEGLER
| fCopyrixht 1915, by King Features syndicate.)
NEW YORK, Sept. 23-The myth Of gener-
osity and charity surrounding the name OF
Franklin D. Roosevelt has endeared him to
the common man. so warmly that some of
those who accepted the role of the protected
under p "protector," cannot even consider the
truth about him.
We certainly know that millionaire though
he was, he picked on Jesse Jones, another
millionaire, and member OF his Cabinet, to
settle for petty amounts enormous debts which
his son, Elliott, had incurred by borrowing.
Objective judgment must admit that, In doing
SO, President Roosevelt exploited the presi-
dency for the financial benefit of his son, even
though it be maintained, against honest sense,
, that when they loaned the money, the lenders
were unnaindful of the Presidents power to
help or hurt them.
AS samples of the common MANS hys-
terra when confronted with proof OF this cal
lous perfidy, I quote from routine letters:
81 have read you a few times and have
found it very disgusting and degrading" says
one. 'Your cracks and slurring remarks about
our late President make me sick. Wishing
you all my worst regards, you rat -.
!
the stuff you write about the past President.
Why didn't you write that stuff when he was
here?'
AS to the challenge in the second mash
note must say I wish the facts had been in
hand in time. should like to have heard Mr..
Roosevelts answer to the first chapter-and
verse charge of cunning, greed and secret
betrayal of his protested ethics, supported by
the personal word of Jesse Jones and John
rff fo
public hearing table.
But, referring to Mr.. Roosevelts reputation
for philanthropy what evidence have we to
support it and what evidence to the contrary?
His name, attached to Warm Springs was
glorified by the charity Of millions of little
people" but with no affirmation that he, per-
! sonally, ever gave away five dollars. The
Warm Springs campaign was started by Hen
ry L. Doherty, who had reason to apprehend
that his great public utility interests would be
attacked by the new deal.
BY suggestion from the White House,
Doherty organized this propaganda, whose
purpose was to protect Roosevelts own in
vestments in Warm Springs. and advanced
more than $780, Of his own money to get
it under way, with great credit to Roosevelt
for tending his birthday to children suffer.
ing from polio. The 'loan'' Of the birthday
was hit upon by Carl Byoir, the public rela.
tons man, who ran the propaganda for
Doherty and who had seen some such senti-
mental invention somewhere in Barrie.
If called upon by proper authority, John j.
Raskob an economic royalist'' of the du
Pont interests, would testify that he had to
post a huge personal guarantee to protect
Roosevelts Warm Springs investment ere
Roosevelt would consent to run for governor
on Al Smiths ticket in 1928. Roosevelt went to
Boston just before election last fall to win the
Catholic vote" and for this purpose dwelt
on his great old friendship for Al Smith, who
had only contempt for him in recent years
but, by then, was dead. In this speech he said
he ran for governor at Smiths request but
he didn't mention Raskob's check which was
the final persuasion, rather than loyalty to
Smith.
John Flynn, in his biographical work 'Coun.
try Squire in the White House." said Roosevelt
tried to plant his political and personal secre-
tary Louie Howe on the New York State Pub
lie payroll at $1,000 year in the guise Of
secretary to the Taconic State Park commits
sion OF which Roosevelt was an honorary
member. He said that Robert Moses, a public
servant OF the most meticulous standards of
duty. as state park commissioner, was willing
to appoint Howe until Howe explained that he
could spend only few hours week doing
work for the public.
Moses became incensed at this" Flynn
wrote. He refused to appoint Howe and sent
word to Roosevelt that he was crazy if he
thought he could put his own personal secre-
tary on the public payroll
Not doubling Mr.. Flynn. I nevertheless
thought 1t proper to ask Mr.. Moses if this were
correct presentation.
His written answer was lit states the facts"
Roosevelt so hated Moses for thwarting his
attempt to tap the public till that one of the
most brilliant public officials of the age never
was put to any use in a time when the most
despicable slobs to be found in the intellectual
slums Of American college life were exploiting
the anguish of baffled people to project for
themselves careers as professional blackmai-
ers Of industry, at which many of them now
thrive in the guise of lawyers and labor rela-
tons racketeers.
Much OF his adult life Mr.. Roosevelt was
still resident Of the state of New York, he
cut-rate passenger on the ship of state. AS
governor, on large salary, he was exempt
from the federal income tax. AS President, but
still resident Of the state Of New York. he
was exempt from the state income tax. Fin
ally, began and carried through. campaign
TO correct this discrimination. And. onlv when
it was on its wav to passage by CONGRESS. did
Roosevelt agree that this inequality should be
ended Meantime millions Of common men,
earning much less than Roosevelt and by their
own toll. initiative and risk, had been paying
both taxes. .
In his will. this millionaire 1eft only s10o
each to his personal EMPLOYEES and inst few
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