Evening star., 1949-01-29
'tndomitab|e Spirit
Eu|ogized al ADA's
Roosevelt Day Dinner
By Chalmers M. Roberts

Vy Su0VuStS Vts NVDCttS
The 'indomitable spirit" Of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt, the man who "in
truth as much as in fiction" led
last weeks inaugural parade down
Pennsylvania avenue. was euolo-
sized last night at the first annual
Roosevelt day dinner sponsored by
Americans for Democratic action.
The liberal. anti-Communist Or
ganization gathering was one Of a
series of such dinners throughout
the Nation. More than TOO persons
jammed a Shoreham Hotel banquet
room for the gathering here.
They heard the late President de-
scrihed by Senator Kefauver as the
man who really led the parade. The
Tennessee Democrat also called him
lone Of the two or three great all
time Presidents"
They heard Walter Reuther, pres
ident Of the CLOS United Auto
Workers, call for living memorial
to Franklin D. Roosevelt in a con-
tinuation of what he called the
fight between privately planned
scarcity for profits" and publicly
planned abundance for people"
Message From Truman.
They read in the program o mes
sage from President Truman that
the late President has left an en-
during imprint on our time"
But above all, they heard, in the
voice of his son, Franklin D. Roose-
welt, jr., something of that famous
tone, those Groton accents, the lilt,
the phrasing which made the Roose-
welt voice perhaps the best recog-
nized voice the world has ever
known. Franklin. jr.. his voice not
yet as certain as his fathers, offered
a plan Of his own to carry forth
his fathers ideals for strengthen
ing world democracy"
This was a plan to solve the
problem Of 1ndonesia through the
establishment by the Asiatic nations,
which recently met in India. of "a
southeastern political and economic
development league" together with
the United States and the three
colonial powers, Britain, France and
Holland.
Mr.. Roosevelt. himself a vice
chairman Of ADA, said such a
league should Immediately estab-
lish free and independent govern
ments In all the existing colonial
areas" and that the members should
pool their technical resources "and
such financial assistance as may be
necessary to promote the stable eco
ron1ic growth and development of
this area"
Cites Truman Plan.
He said he considered such q plan
in accordance with President Tru-
mans now famous Inaugural Ad-
dress Point 4 for the development
of backward areas of the world.
Mr.. Roosevelt offered the plan after
attacking the recent Dutch action
In Indonesia as an act "of an out
moded and irresponsible colonial
power"
Mr.. Roosevelt said there are only
minor differences between the
twins" Of communism and fascisTn.
He declared "the overlords of the
Kremlin" have not yet learned
Hitler's lesson that. mo matter how
you disguise it, conquest by force
and domination maintained through
force can never endure"
Mr.. Reuther. his right arm still1
In sling from the attempt to kill
him, attacked this Nations double
standard Of civil rights" He de-
clared "our victory Is not won; we
just have the opportunity in Amer
lea" as a result of the Democratic
victory at the polls last November.
MIR. Reuther attacked the steel in
dustry which, he said. like other
monopolies" has mo faith in
Americas future-they are planning
for the next depression"
Former Attorney General Francis
Biddle acted as toastmaster, while
James Wechsler, New York Post
correspondent, conducted a fund
raising drive between speeches. The
dinner was planned by the local
ADA chapter, which is headed by
Benjamin c. Sigal. Frances Adams
and Gerhard Van Arkel. Senator
Humphrey, Democrat, of Minnesota,
is acting national chairman of the
ADA