The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-22
TRELLIS Macs LETTER
BY HAL BOYLE
CHICAGO R-Dearest wilbur,

NI1iSn1O h-DcdTeSt WuuuIs
Politics is cruel. You give your
life to the people, and when you
ask them a twilight favor-they
lock the other way.
feel both sad and proud TO-
day-as sad as if I were the daugh-
ter of Vice President Barley, and
the sister of young Franklin D.
Roosevelt Jr.
At the Convention Hall Monday
/ saw the political death of Dear
Alben,' and the birth as a national
political figure of President Roose-
velt's son. In a single day ! saw
the sun set for one man of "a
years-and the sun rise on a man
who has lived just half that long.
went to the evening session
as guest of a dubious Texas del
egate. / believe I mentioned him
in my first letter to you. He
very courtly gentleman and says
he owns "a small oilfield-not
more than half the size of Illi-
nois." He sent an orchid to my
room ror me to wear. It was a
small orchid-not more than half
the size of Chicago, but colored
prettier.
Well, the Democrats got to
squabbling like Republicans, and
, fought the Civil War all over again
trying to get the Dixiecrats to take
loyalty oath to support the par
TVS candidates. Lacking either a
Robert E. Lee or a Stonewall
Jackson, the South lost out fast.
In the midst of the battle word
spread around that Vice President
Barley was Withdrawing from the
race for the presidential nomina-
ton.
The lady next to me was from
Kentucky, and she started crying.
''That grand old man." she said
They have broken his heart, and
he gave AZ years to his country.
1t was cruel to remind him of his
age. He still has a younger, kinder
heart than most anybody here"
Wilbur, you know I'm an old
softie. / started crying, too, and
we traded handkerchiefs. Then
this lady and I started talking,
and 1t turned out she has the same
kind of refrigerator as we do. I
guess it is small world after all.
We are going shopping together
tomorrow.
II looks to me like the Demo
Gratis have decided youth must be
served, as the old saying goes.
The young Democrats here have
risen up and taken over the party's
first Embossed convention In 20
years. II was coalition Of three
politically young men who put over
the loyalty oath" designed to
keep the South from boiling again.
They were Sen. Blair Moody, Gov.
G. Mennen Williams handsome,
clean-shaven fellow - and Rep.
Franklin d. Roosevelt Jr.
~ -
But II was young Roosevelt who
took the convention by storm. The
delegates sprang up cheering when
ne was introduced as ''the great
son of a great President"
II was as IL a giant pulse OF
electricity had swept the great
hall. that politically magic
name. He had the famous Roose.
vent toss of the head. the sweep,
ing Roosevelt gesture. a voice
rougher and more booming thar
his father as he said:
| I'VE do not want to drive Demo
Gratis out of the party with thi.
rule. We want to keep them
in the party"
As he spoke he looked up at
portrait Of his dad at the other
end of the hall. Honey, / know
am being sentimental, but
thought ! could actually see the
face of his father break into a
small secret smile of pride in hi:
son-just a crinkiing at the cor,
ners of his mouth. Am I beins
silly. Wilbur?
| Anyway, the convention now 4
humming with word that young
Franklin made himself into a ma.
tional figure In his first speech Al
a party convention.
Il think We ought 10 nominate
Mrs. Franklin d. Roosevelt for
weep this year." said one enthu.
siastic delegate. 'and keep her
son In n1oth.haIls until 1860 and
run him for President.
But the ticket most delegates
seem to think would be most like.
~ TO beat Gen. Eisenhower is Gov
Stevenson aud Sen. Russell. They