Detroit evening times., 1945-04-14

] lDCItdSt illNItHIN anu Slttu Optl
ations and movements we're at
tributed to the Roosevelt genius
DEFEATED IN 1920
Opportunity came during these
years for the rising politician 10
run for governor of the State of
New York, but Mr.. Roosevelt
turned this down. sponsoring,
rather, the nomination of Alfred
/ f.. Smith. Just before the war
ended he went abroad, expecting
to resign his assistant secretary
ship ofthe navy and enlist, bat
he was not on foreign ground long
when the war ended and he re-
turned home.
At the historic Democratic con-
vention in 1920 the name of
Franklin Roosevelt was placed in
nomination for the vice presidency
I and seconded by Alfred Smith,
With James NJ. Cox, the presi-
dental nominee. the young vice
presidential candidate made a
twhirlwind campaign, covering the
/ nation from coast 10 coast and
north to south, but went down TO
defeat in the fall.
After this unsuccessful try a
the vice presidency. Mr.. Roosevelt
moved 10 New York with hi,
family. numbering five children
! then, resumed the practice of law
and settled down to what was, fol
him, quiet life.
1t was at about this time that
Mr.. Roosevelt received the great
est setback 10 activity of his life
which all the world expected
would finish him as a public man
Bathing in the icy waters of
Campobello Island, New Bruins
wick, across the water from East
port, Me, where his family had a
summer place, Roosevelt was
stricken with cramps. Physicians
hastily summoned to his bedside
pronounced the dread diagnosis
infantile paralysis.
WOULDN'T GIVE UP
At first. of course. there was
pain. a great deal of il. Numbeo
limbs refused to respond TO the
treatments accorded by the most
modern medical science. But the
young politician never gave up
His spirits were high as ever as
soon as the eXcruciating pain oi
the attack leSSened. And his abun'
dant energy and the excellent
background Of health that was his
slowly pulled him toward partial
I recovery.
That was in the summer of 1920
A year later he picked up agar
the strands of his busy life, anC
soon was carrying on his law prac'
tice as ever, and at the same time
as much as ever interested ir
politics.
At the next Democratic national
convention, walking with a cane
and leaning on the arm of his tall
and oldest son James. Mr. Roose-
welt placed in nomination for the
presidency the name of Alfred f
Smith. Then, when Smith was
nominated, Roosevelt consented tC
run for governor of the state OF
New York.
The gubernatorial candidate
won his first election into the
New York State House a. Albany
by a bare 25,000 majority, but sc
well did he satisfy the people that
I two years later he was reelected
/ by a majority OF million.
LICKS BUGABOO
Mr.. Roosevelt in his work as
governor of the Empire State had
TO lick the same bugaboo that
later developed in his campaign as
President-that of his enemies
who portrayed the man as physi-
cally weak. This he effectually
I accomplished by his record oI
work as governor, but early ir
1881, when rumors were fyini
thick and fast in politics. he me-
il again in a whispering campaign
Of those opposed 10 his nomination
for the presidency.
Talk of a Roosevelt nomination
was spreading through the coun
Try as far back as two years
before his nomination in Chicago
There were experts who said h,
could never make the grade
Then. when the Democrats assem-
blcd in Chicago a few days o
private polling which always goe'
on. established that Mr. Roosevelt
was the obvious man upon which
70 settle. When the man va
dominated tbero was Wild an