The Wilmington morning star., 1946-07-22
Fair Enough
BY wEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916, bv King Features
Syndicate Tuc

ic being his active participation in the bllklng
of John Hartford and David G. Baird who had
loaned $3.50, 900 to his son, Elliott, and the un-
successful attempt to blk Charles HARDWOOD
OF $25, COO by representing that his collateral
was worth only 2 cents on the dollar. 1t has
been shown further that the President, VINO
had damned holding companies, used three
holding companies and TIE Reconstruction Fin
ance Corporation in an elaborate scheme to
provide that an estate adjoining his own at
HYDE Park should not fall into the hands OF
"undesirable'' neighbors.
As to generosity by employers toward en-
ployees, President Roosevelt left an emphatic
record in speeches and ocument which in
vited an assumption amcng his followers that
he, himself, was extraordinarily liberal. His
will, bequeathing only $100 each to his per-
sonel employees out Of a millionaire S estate,
suggested Inconsistency, the more striking
in view OF the great value OF the phllatehc
treasures which he lett, most of which were a
profitable and questionable by-product OF the
presidential office.
Moreover, it is a fact that in his old
home neighborhood Of HYDE Park, Mr.. Roose-
Welt was not unanimously or even generally
regarded as a liberal employer.
Historians undoubtedly will weigh evidence
Of contr additions in the character OF Mr..
Roosevelt. however shriily his followers today
may object to the introduction into the con-
temporary record Of material which other
wise might be lost.
In 1885,, when ALT Landon, of Kansas, ap-
posed Mr.. Roosevelt as the Republican NOM
inee, the Republican National Committee pre-
pared a broadcast in which DR.. ]. Nj. Cronk,
of Hyde Park, a country doctor who had then
been ia general practice there tor SO years,
was to have been the star witness.
DR.. Cronk had regarded Roosevelt as a SELF
ish and spobbish boy and, in that broadcast,
which was not delivered, but the original script
of which still exists, he was prepared to say:
Mr. Roosevelt is not known here, among his
neighbors, as a good reighbor. There is plenty
of reason. We know the way he treats the peo-
pie who have worked fl him. Mr.. Roose-
welt does not have the reputation of a good
employer.
I'VE in Hyde Park know that Mr.. Roose-
welt calls himself the friend Of labor. I don't
want % sound cynical, but we don't judge
him by what he says when he is talking fol
votes but by what we know OF him right here.
We hear a lot about Social Security these
days. Let me tell you about an old man, a
very old man here in Hyde Park. His name is
Myron Hustled. Mr.. Hustled is IN his 89th year
He worked on the Roc sevelt estate tor Is
years. For the last five years he has not
worked at all.
Seven years ago, when Mr.. Hustled was in
his 82nd year, and after 81 years of service for
the Roosevelts, his pay was cut to one dol
lar a day and the old man had to walk more
than two miles each way, to and from work,
and then to put in a days work to the best
of his ability. For two years he faithfully
plodded back and forth. rain or shine, to
earn mis- daily dollar.
One rainy night, five years ago, on his
way home from work, Mr.. Hustled fell and
sustained an injury. He never returned to
work. He requested a small pension from the
Roosevelt family to help sustain him in his
last years. He did not gel it, although it is
the custom Of the big estate owners up the
river to pension their ole and faithful en-
ployees."
Among the documents attached to the radio
script is an affidavit by Doctor Cronk on
October s, 1886, and bearing the signature OF
a notary public in which he sWore that Myron
Hustled had made these statements to him.
Doctor Cronk examined this old affidavit a
Few days ago and acknowledged its contents
and his signature.
Here is another case" Doctor Cronk's
script continued. Ezra Plain, too, worked on
the Roosevelt estate for many years. Here is
what ne says: Il was employed on the Roose-
welt estate for IA years, the last 10
of which were in continuous service as a
coachmen. On June LIST. 1886, 1 was discharged
without cause after having oeen given two
weeks notice. From both Franklin D. Roose-
Welt and Mrs. James Roosevelt l received writ
ten recommendations upcr discharge. The rea-
son stated in their Letters was that they were
going to cut down the number OF horses to
one. Actually, they sill have six horses and
l was told verbally that I was being let 60
to cut down expenses because they were go
ing to get soldiers to do the work. Two soldiers
are now working on the place in uniform,
caring foc the horses. Since my dlscharge
have had no employment"
A photostat of letter in Franklin D.
RooseveEs handwriting on White House
stationery and signed by him says Ezra Plain
was reliable, honest ana a good worker
and adds, 81 am glad to him"
A photostat of another letter, in another
handwriting, signed rs. (Sarah) D. Roose-
velt,' Mrs. James ROOSEVELT, says, II
have found him honest and sober and he un-
derstands well the care Of horses"
Doctor Cronk says be, personally, knew
the two sergeants Of the Army who were de-
tailed to the Roosevelt estate to care Cor the
horses after the dismissal Of Ezra Plain and
that the soldiers ''were kind Of boastful
fellows because they worked for Roosevelt.
| used to see them around, - he was unable
to give their names.
In closing, the script said Doctor Cronk
had h~esitated to take part in the radio inter-
view but finally decided it was his duty to
help other people to knew Mr.. Roosevelt as
his %neighbors knew aim
Other effidavits in the accompanying sheaf
said Roosevelt paid $225 for a nine-hour day
Cor laborers as against the local rate of 40