The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-04-26

1t may be pardonable to draw at
; tention to certain phases of the pass
+ ing of Franklin d. Roosevelt, in COM
parison to certain phases OF the pass
ling of Samuel Gompers.
Perhaps few except labor men will
turn in thought to that other time
when labor's greatest leader passed
away. But for them it seems warrant
led.
For Franklin Roosevelt the final
scene was played out in little town
in Georgia, but one that he loved. For
Samuel Gompers the final curtain
came in San Antonio, Texas, just as
he had returned from land for
which he had a deep affection.
In both cases the general public had
no thought that physical strength was
so far gone, but in both cases those
close by knew very well that strength
was on the ebb.
In neither case did the principal do
much to spare himself from cares and
labors that might prolong life.
For both men there was that
funeral train back to Washington,
with the day in Washington and a
might trip to New York for burial.
Both men had been weakened by
world war. Both men were loved by
millions who had never known them.
For both there were tears from many
la pair of eyes that never had beheld
the one SO mourned.
Those who knew them both regard
ed neither as replacable. Here were
men that come to nations only at
great intervals.
The theory that there is no ire
placable man needs much modifica-
tion.
1t is true that the world continues
to move along, but it must be equally
true that great mind cannot be re-
placed with equal success by lesser
mind.
1t may be true that masses get
tired of following a brilliant mind,
because it moves SO far out ahead;
and that it welcomes the Stacking of
strain when a lesser mind comes to
the helm to slow down the rate Of
speed. 1t may be, but we cannot be
too sure.
But let US return to the compari-
sons. When Franklin D.. Roosevelt
died his tasks were unfinished. When
Samuel Gompers died his tasks, too,
we're unfinished.
When Franklin ID. Roosevelt died
his death came so quickly that those
who most would have liked to be near
had no time; it was much the same
with Samuel Gompers.
The ills of those two great men
we're not the same; and yet both were
organic. 1t is the aging of
issues that begets that bursting of
he blood vessels of the brain that
;nuffed out the life of Franklin d.
Roosevelt. 1t was the aging of those
;ame tissues that caused an unknown
loctor to battle through dramatic
light in San Antonio to bring down
hat fatally high blood pressure.
But there comes a time when no
luman doctor can defeat the purposes
# the Great Physician. There comes
time when death cannot be post
,oned.
Some may recall that bleak trip
rom San Antonio to Washington;
nd on to New York and a peaceful
ollow.
Some may recall how, at every lit
lie station where a stop was possible
olemn and mourning throngs came
0 bow in respect and in sorrowful
lemory; some to bow in baffled con-
must this great man go
rom among us?
And some may recall that it wasn't
)ng before the first few fangs of
ealousy began to bite into the fabric
rom which the future should be
lade.
Some began to try to tear bits from
1e fallen mantle.
But mainly it was a time Of great
prov, and in a sense, of frustra-
on.
1t comes upon us again, but with
reater impact, in the death Of this
reat President-this heroic figure of
rankin Roosevelt.
The so-called little men of the
tile world know, with an unerring
ldgment, when they have lost an un-
champion. They knew it
hen Samuel Gompers died; they
1ow If nou- tbot EranL lin DoIopo
oosevelt has gone to his eternal rest
-CMW.