Evening star., 1946-01-09
5y Frank r. Kent

A not particularly pleasing habit
has been developed recently by the
CLOSE friends" of the late Mr..
Roosevelt of asserting that his
enemies" are venting their
venom" on his reputation; that bit
terness" toward him is being carried
beyond the grave; that an effort
is being made to smear" his MEM
ory: that those who did not admire
him are being petty"
Some of this comes from former
Roosevelt jobholders who have be-
come radio news commentators
Others are former intimates who
worship his memory and believe
those who do not are ignorant and
unworthy. In neither case is there
any real foundation for these asser-
tions.
So far as the unsavory Elliott
Roosevelt incident is concerned,
that was put on the shelf weeks ago.
Few persons have mentioned it for
a long time, and anyhow it was the
facts that reflected on Mr.. Roose-
velt. not what was said about him.
The Republicans who sought to find
something in the Pearl Harbor in
vestigation that would show the late
President in an unfavorable light
rather brought discredit on them
selves and certainly got no results
Suggestions Not Justified.
II there has been any other incl
dent which would lend even the
faintest color to the "smearing"
charge it cannot now be recalled.
Yet, with both these now under the
head of finished business" the
chatter about a campaign of hate"
continues.
One would suppose, to listen to
some of this, that there was large
organized effort to disparage Mr..
Roosevelt and deprive him of his
place in history" There is so little
to justify these suggestions that it
is impossible not to be slightly sus-
picious of the vigor with which
they are put forth.
Actually, when the facts are con-
sidered, there seems more ground
for believing that these exaggerated
and absurd allegations are being
made not to reply to any disparage-
ment of Mr.. Roosevelt but to COM
pei all American citizens to accept
the view of his "close friends" that
he was one of the noblest and wisest
men who ever lived. Dissenters are
labeled in advance as Roosevelt
haters" and grave desecraters."
Despite such name calling, there
are many millions of American men
and women who do dissent. And
many of them object to the effort
to force their acquiescence in the
theory of Mr.. Roosevelt's greatness
of mind and soul.
For example, there are twoI
projects now being pushed by Mr..
Roosevelt's friends to which they
find it rather hard to subscribe. One
of these is the movement to make
his birthday a national holiday.
1t is exceedingly doubtful that a
majority of the people are in favor
of this. This is no great demand
that Mr.. Roosevelt thus be put on a
par with Washington and Lincoln.
Opposition Regarded as Wicked.
Yet, opposition to the idea is re-
garded as wicked. 1t is the same
way with the move to select Hyde
Park as the permanent site of the
United Nations Organizations. In
effect, this would make of the UNOI
plant a monument to Mr.. Roose-
welt. In the view of a great many,
that would be eminently uniting.
MIR. Roosevelt did not originate the
UNO idea. If the memory of any
American President is to be honored
by the site, clearly it should be that
of Woodrow Wilson, founder of the
League of Nations, in the support
of which Cat the time 1t badly need
ed SupporD Mr.. Roosevelt, to put it
mildly, was lukewarm.
If the many millions who loved
and admired Mr.. Roosevelt want to
erect a great memorial to him. no
one possibly could object to their
raising the money and doing so.
There Is movement now to have
his friends collect a huge endow-
ment fund and found, In Washing
ton, a great university in his name
for the study of international rela-
tionS.
This Is a very commendable idea.