Imperial Valley press., 1945-04-13
PASSING OF
TIE PRESIDENT


Death has closed over the human form
Of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Today, the country and the world stand
stunned by the sudden shock of his pass
ing. 1t is almost as if battle fronts sud-
denly went silent. planes frCze in midair,
men stopped in their tracks and the sun
stood motionless in its orbit.
In the human-form death of President
Roosevelt, many men died because he
represented within himself many such
men. First the President of the United
States suddenly passed away. As SUCH
he was the most powerful man in this, the
most powerful nation on earth He was
the leader at the head of armies in the
midst Of war. Doubly tragic, he appar-
emily barely missed seeing the victory
over half the greatest war of all times
Also, as President, he was one of the three
largest figures in the world, figures upon
whom are depending the greatest portion
of the task of shaping future, peaceful
world. Certainly, the death of such giants
should stop the pendulum of the clock.
Beyond even that high mark, Mr.
Roosevelt represented the perSonification
of human insistence upon no more wars
In desire. he was the counterpart of
Woodrow Wilson. But in determination to
attain successfully the goal which Wilson
failed to achieve, he was the counterpart
of all Americans and probably billion
other humans ON this small place called a
world.
When he died great political leader
died, one destined to go down in history
as possibly ttc greatest thus far, the most
astute the most successful. He was a man
of rare wisdom, keeneSt intellect. perfect
ed training, highly developed character
and outstandingly magnetic personality.
These things almost all men admired,
even those who opposed him personally
and the political matters which he advo-
Gated. If today, those who fought him po-
litically experience the sense of loss and
find it difficult to define the bounds, it is
only because here in America we have a
national characteristic of condemning
the personifications of the issues we dis
like.
So. if some find themselves still oppos-
ing much that "F. D. R." personifiod, but
simultaneously regretting the loss of
reader of such ability j. is only because
we feel proud of all strong leaders. but
reserve the right to stand by our free
dom-given precepts of personal convic-
tion.
Within our body polite, the United
States plays a game of sport in which
two sides battle for family victory TO
the victor goes the laurels. We want our
favorite to win, but win, lose or draw, we
want the victor to be real champion.
And not even his political opponents can
claim that Roosevelt lacked the force,
power and courage of a real champion.
The President preached and worked for
the welfare OF humanity. He will be re-
corded in history as a great humanita-
rian, as indeed. are most if not all of our
Presidents. After the years of political
strife on how the beS. could be accom-
plished for the most people, the issue still
remains 1t cid not Gle with Mr.. Roose-
welt
And only the pages of time will reveal
how right or wrong he was, and the eX-
tent to which his spirit and influence and
political creed will continue to be effec
tive in the years to come. The grave may
claim his body, but the world of human
kind can still claim him.
We welcome the new President, Harry
S. Truman.
1t is immaterial that we opposed him
ft election. That is beside the point.
America needs another strong Presi-
ent That need now settles down upon
he shoulders of this former Missouri
senator.
We wish him strength, courage and
LIT OITP WAY