Evening star., 1945-04-13
Roosevelt Had Leading Role Charng Strategy for Axis Defeat

came a constructive influence in the
Wilson administration.
Congenially Situated Here.
Working with Josephus Daniels and
with President Wilson. Mr.. Roosevelt
found himself very congenially situ-
ated. He took Office on March II,
1918, and remained until August 7,
1920. when he resigned to campaign
for the vice presidency as running
mate with James NJ Cox of Ohio.
When the country chose Warren g.
Harding and Calvin Coolidge 1t ex-
pressed its desire for a thoroughgo-
ing change rather than any particu-
lar antipathy to the Democratic
standard bearers. Mr.. Roosevelt GER
tainly suffered no permanent damage
by his defeat. On the contrary, his
Nationwide speaking tour had ad-
ded to his popularity. He was a
national figure, in the full meaning
Of that term, at last.
But it may be that, following so
closely on his tireless labors of the
war period, the 1920 campaign weak
ened Mr.. Roosevelt's physical reserve
and prepared the way for the crush
ing blow which struck his personal
fortunes In August, 1921. Thirty mine
years of age, tall, robust, sturdily
healthy in appearance but sadly tired,
he fell a victim to poliomyellt1s, or
lnfantile paralysis. He emerged from
the disease a helpless cripple, his legs
useless, his feet leaden weights to be
dragged through the remainder OF his
life. But his spirit was untouched.
III beat this thing!" he swore, and
from that day forward he fought his
way back to normal ease OF move
ment. He underwent periodical treat
ment at Warm Springs, Ga, from
1922 to 1882.
In 1924 he undertook the general
management of the preconvention
campaign of his friend, the late
Gov. Alfred E. Smith. Perhaps there
is no more dramatic memory in the
minds of Democrats than that of
| his appearance at the Madison
Square Garden convention June 27
to place in nomination the name of
the Happy Warrior" He dragged
himself into the hall, swinging his
body slowly and painfully forward,
his fists wrapped white around the
handle pieces of his crutches, his
face strained, a mere ghost of the
athlete who had played football and
baseball at Groton and striven for
the official eight at Harvard. The
crowded auditorium echoed with
applause.
Drafted for Governor.
BY 1928 he had regained large
measure of his normal strength. Again
he was active in preconvention en-
deavors in behalf of his friend. and
again. at the Houston convention, on
June %. 1923, he presented the claims
of the Tammany leader. Gov. Smith
was chosen to make the race. and Mr
Roosevelt returned to Warm Springs
for further treatment of his crippled
. limbs 1t was there that he received
on October 2. telephone appeal from
his comrade in arms to accept the
Democratic nomination for Governor
of New York.
Mr.. Roosevelt consented against his
will it has been said. The campaign
which followed was ugly and bitter
. Gov. Smith was defeated: Mr. Roose-
: welt was elected. That he was sue
cesSful in most of his undertak-
!, ings was made manifest when
, in 1880, he was reelected Gov
. ernor with a plurality of 725.00l votes
: He was the first Democratic candidate
, to carry upstate" New York Again
: his victory was largely non-partisan
in character His independence was
confirmed Nor did he fail to take
full advantage of the fact.
Possibly it was Mr.. Roosevelt's in
sistence on his freedom that brought
about his break with Mr. Smith. The
!, incident is wrapped in mystery, and,
though many explanations have been
offered, the truth is as yet unknown
In any event, there was gradual
drifting apart, if not definite
quarrel
The Logical Candidate"
The pre-convention campaign to
secure the Democratic nomination
for the presidency for Mr.. Roosevelt
), began at the time of his second in
!, Inauguration as Governor Of New
! York, January !, 1881. His friends
!, argued that he was the logical
: candidate" and they went to work
! with enthusiasm in his behalf
S Naturally they did not have an un-
S challenged path to their goal. In
e the East, Mr.. Smith was opposed
n Ditcl,1n nf
e land was conspicuously available
). In the West, John N. Garner Of
a Texas, Speaker of the House O.
e Representatives was doomed for thu
:, honor. Other presumptive candi
I dates were: Newton d. Baker, for
r mer Secretary of War; Harry F
:, Byrd, Governor of Virginia; William
H. Murray, Governor of Oklahoma
r George White, Governor of Ohio
II James A. Reed, former United State
0 Senator from Missouri. and Melvin
e Traylor, Chicago banker.
/. Mr.. Roosevelt chose as bis man
6 ager and personal representative
James A. Farley of New York, char
d man of the New York State Boxing
n Commission and long worker il
the ranks of the New York State
t Democratic organization. Mr.. Far
ley had the reputation of success
S Months before the party convention
: at Chicago he was claiming tn:
e choice of his candidate That hi!
4 optimism was justified was demon.
strated when the convention as
sembled, June 27. Mr.. Roosevelt
1 name was placed before The conven'
n ton by John E. Mack of Hyde Park
who had given the Governor hi:
+ first nomination in 1910. Mr.. Macl
o was seconded by Mrs. John C. Green
e way of Arizona, who had been {
bridesmaid. with Mrs. Longworth
: at the wedding OF the Roosevelt!
. in 1905.
. Balloting began at about o'cloc,
! on the morning of July /. Mr.. Roose
= welt received $685. votes on the frs
;. call, roughly, 103 less than mis- man
E ager had expected. On the secont
call he had 667%. On the thirt
p 682 79/100 Then the convention re-